Onward & Upward: Welcome to the Blog
Onward & Upward Blog
Welcome to Dr. Allie’s Blog. This is where I plan to share brief psychoeducational information on topics I find myself frequently discussing in sessions. Today’s post is just an introduction to who I am and the concept for this blog.
Onward & Upward is a phrase I’ve often found myself saying when there is not much I can do in a situation to change it. Onward is when I encounter an obstacle and I know I must carry on while committing to live my life in the best way possible, even when the situation at hand is undesirable. Upward is when I commit to making my life better after the situation passes, by learning new skills or challenging myself in new ways. Happiness and a sense of purpose in life are possible when we create it.
Hi! My name is Dr. Allison Meins.
I often go by Dr. Allie. I’m a licensed clinical psychologist, having earned my PsyD at the California School of Professional Psychology in San Francisco in 2017. I think being a psychologist providing individual therapy to teens, young adults, adults, and elders, is the most magical job I could ever have. Truly. I do not take for granted just how lucky I am that I get to build trusting relationships with folks, help them through challenging times, and witness them during beautiful growth & “a-ha” moments for a living. It’s a job that is filled with meaning and connection, something I hope to foster and promote more of in this world. Therapy is a place where I witness folks peel back the layers, uncover their values, get real with themselves, and learn new tools.
I believe we all have a story to tell. We all take on various roles in our life. While American society puts a lot of pressure on “what” we will be when we grow up, I think we need to more closely consider “who” we will be and who we are through various life stages.
Outside of my profession, I’m a first generation college student (Go Gauchos!), a daughter, a sister, a friend, a life partner, a dreamer, an outdoor-enthusiast, a lover of music, and a kid at heart. I grew up in California’s Bay Area and very much appreciate the way the Bay shaped me - I learned from a young age to be accepting, considerate, and curious about people from a variety of cultures, family lifestyles, first-languages, and life experiences. This is probably why I developed a sense of adventure for exploring new places when I was young and even learned to speak Spanish. The ability to connect to people in different places, from different backgrounds, and in a second language pushes the boundaries on how one expresses oneself. It also allows one to learn a whole heck of a lot about different approaches to problem-solving.
On the Blog: Latest Reads & Tips/Tools
In writing this blog, I hope to share topics that interest me and my clients. “What Dr. Allie Is Reading Now” will be a recurring post that will speak to my love of reading, learning, and sharing knowledge with others. While I love a good mystery or witchy-fantasy novel, I also enjoy learning from colleagues and reading self-help or psychoeducational books that I can share with others. I’ll share books that speak to some of the topics I often find myself discussing with folks in therapy sessions. Sometimes these books will be self-help books, sometimes they’ll be written by philosophers and psychologists, and sometimes they’ll be “fun” fiction books that share a story relating to real-life challenges.
In addition to sharing my latest reads, I hope to sprinkle in helpful posts about tools you can access on your own or serve as reminders of tools you may already know. I often find myself talking in sessions about coping tools for anxiety & depression, emotion regulation tools, how to set and maintain boundaries in our relationships, the impact of our attachment patterns on our interactions with others, and actions we can take to live a life of meaning and purpose. My goal is to include easily-digestible tools for folks to consume, which also demonstrate ways in which I practice what I preach. We’ll explore how to move beyond the challenges we encounter, get over the hurdles and bumps, and learn new ways of interacting with ourselves and others to foster compassion and community.
Welcome to the blog - Let’s move Onward & Upward!
Disclaimer:
Please note that the information offered via the Onward & Upward Blog, written and managed by Dr. Allison Meins, is not, nor is it intended to be, therapy or psychological advice. Established therapeutic relationship communications will be managed via telephone or confidential email.
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