Today we’d like to introduce you to Allison Anthony.
Hi Allison, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Sure! I grew up in Bakersfield, Ca. When I was 8 years old I started playing softball, nothing major, but some point it became my biggest passion and I would play almost year round. When I was 14 years old I started going to therapy following the loss of a family member. As a teen, it was so wonderful having someone in my life who was an ally, confidant and provided me with a safe, judgement free space. This is when I decided I wanted to become a therapist.
When I was 18 years old both of my parents passed away. My father passed from a heart attack and one week later my mother lost her battle to pancreatic cancer. Something that my parents always wanted me to get, it wasn’t really an option actually, was a college degree. My dad took it a step further and preached the need for me to get a masters. I had already been accepted to California State University of Monterey Bay prior to their passing, and did the only thing that made sense for me to do, I went to college.
I completed my undergraduate degree in Psychology with a minor in sociology at California State University of Monterey Bay. During school, I was fortunate enough to volunteer at a needle exchange program where I was given the opportunity to work with the unhoused who were struggling with addiction and severe mental illness. This experience along with my passion for abnormal psychology led me to pursue my Masters in Social Work at CSUMB. After I completed school, I worked with adolescents in an individual capacity through county services. I provided these teens a healing environment and therapeutic connection that was once so impactful to my own growth. I then went on to work with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for the majority of my career, where I worked with a vast array of mental illnesses including those suffering with: personality disorders, bipolar, disorder, schizophrenia, depression, anxiety and substance abuse in an environment that brought so many additional challenges to it as well.
In June of 2022 I left CDCR and opened up my private practice in Monterey, Ca. I have found such a joy in being able to provide a space for my clients where they can feel safe to work on all of life’s challenges. To me there is no better gift/honor than being that person for someone.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I think anyone that is in the mental health field can attest to it not always being a smooth ride!
During my undergraduate degree I was struggling to process the grief I was experiencing, I even took some time off between my undergraduate degree and masters program to process and ensure this was the right path for me. When you are in graduate school you are learning so much about yourself and how you view the world, working with the curriculum to learn how to be a therapist. Then you get out of school and have to figure out how to apply everything you learned while navigating and learning how mental health systems truly work. It’s a hard pill to swallow at times. All while getting your clinical hours and taking tests to obtain licensure. Not to mention life continues to happen around you while this is all happening as well. One thing that was talked about a lot during school was self-care and I understand why. Hello burnout!
A common saying in social work is “meet the client where they are at”; sometimes recognizing the client might not be ready for what you are wanting to offer can be challenging as well as knowing what would help your client but not being able to provide them the service due to limitations in funding, insurance, etc. It has become more evident than ever the longer I am in this profession how systemically we need to change things.
With all of that to say, I don’t think I would be the type of clinician I am today without every single struggle, frustration and hardship I have experienced. Those events have helped shape the way I approach clients, how I work and shape my practice and how I remember the importance of taking care of myself.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Allison Anthony, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Inc. ?
I opened my business in June of 2022 and it was one of the most empowering but also terrifying things I’d ever done. I left my previous employer with zero clients to my name, no income whatsoever. Probably sounds insane to most people but I knew it was the right decision for me, I would make it work and I did.
My clients range in age, starting as young as 14, to adults of various ages. I love working with teens, they have such a demeanor about them and I recognize how important it is to have someone in your life during that phase of life who is on your side. Yes, I have experience in treating depression, anxiety, mood disorders but one thing I think I bring to the table is a great understanding of grief and how it shows up in life, not just when someone we love passes away but throughout various life changes: divorce, leaving a job, friendships, etc. I also have completed certifications in complex trauma to help the first responder community after witnessing their work first hand.
My authenticity is my greatest strength. It allows me to connect with people in a way where they feel seen, valued, and cultivates true change in a therapeutic setting. It has helped me to connect with those who seem lost and provide help to those in need.
As an added bonus, I now get to bring to my corgi Roscoe to work with me every day. I can say the clients certainly look forward to seeing him just as much as he looks forward to seeing them! It’s quite the perk to having my own business.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
There are many people who have helped me along the way and continue to help me; there is no way to be in this field and do this work without a tribe around you!
To start there is Steven Crouch, MFT who was the therapist I had as a teen and changed everything for me. Sadly he passed away in 2025.
I am so grateful for the teachers, colleagues, mentors and therapists I’ve had the pleasure of encountering on my journey to where I am today. If I gave you a list it would probably be too long and I would be getting played off the stage like at the oscars! There are some key people who I do need to shout out though: Kirsten Yackley, Bree Madron, Raquel Sumpter, Marianne Rowe, Jared Philips and Kathryn England-Aytes.
I would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge my partner Joe, my sister Sara and her husband Jeremiah, and of course my parents.
Lastly, I want to thank my clients. Every single one of them throughout the course of my career hold a special place in my heart. They have each taught me something and I cherish the privilege position I have in getting to know their stories.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.allisonanthonylcsw.com/
