Meet Allison Cohen, M.A., MFT | Psychotherapist & Counselor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Allison Cohen, M.A., MFT and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Allison, what do you attribute your success to?
After 18 years as a psychotherapist, I’ve seen time and time again that my ability to sustain and grow my business comes down to my personal practice style and the fact that I offer a take away at the end of every session. I’m a very honest person but I’ve made it my life’s mission to say what I have to say in a kind, gentle way. This gives me the ability to connect with clients even when I am seeing something that is painful for them to confront or they are resistant to addressing. Because I’m always truthful but soft, we develop a trust and rapport that makes them feel safe to explore and find progress. More often than not, new clients come to me after they’ve seen a previous therapist and didn’t have a great experience. After a session or two, inevitably, that new client says to me, “Your approach is really different. You’re listening to me and you’re compassionate but you’re also actually telling me how to make my life better instead of just listening and nodding your head.” I’m very mindful that therapy is a commitment; of time, effort and money and most clients want to end that commitment as quickly as they can. I’m there to listen, but I’m also there to help advance the clients goals, so I work hard to offer specific tools and impart new skills. We make a plan, I follow up at each session, tweak and add to the plan as necessary and progress develops. Because my clients feel safe, respected and actually learn ways to feel better and live better, they then refer me to their friends and family and my practice expands.

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
In graduate school, they teach you foundational concepts of psychotherapy and psychology. What they don’t tell you is how to build the business necessary to do the work of a psychotherapist! This was a long process of trial and error for me. Psychotherapists tend to be more introverted and like to stay in their offices and just see clients. Marketing didn’t really exist for our business beyond attendance at membership meetings and coffee meet and greets and it was a long game developing relationships before you ever saw enough of a payout to create a successful referral source. I wanted to grow my business faster and was fortunately savvy enough to know that websites were great connectors and a powerful vector for business growth. I developed a website and was one of the first psychotherapists in LA to do so. I then took on the arduous task of learning Google Ad Words to start making my website work for me. It proved to be successful, as it did bring in a fair amount of business in the early stages of establishing my name and reputation in the field. Then, others in the field became wise to the power of websites which brought more competition for search page results, increased bid budgets for ads and then leads generated by my website grew smaller. When I got frustrated by declining calls, I reminded myself that this was the job that I was meant to do, had wanted to do my entire life and if I stuck with it, I would eventually see the growth. Eventually, I was able to expand my practice by being the type of practitioner that moved clients towards personal and professional fulfillment. There’s no better way to build a business than by offering success to your clients. Through this journey, my biggest take away was this – when there’s no road map, you can build one for yourself. With zero business experience or business education, I figured it out because I wanted to have a thriving practice. To this day there are ebbs and flows but I trust in my ability to always figure it out. I’m proud of this internal knowing that was developed from as many failures as there have been successes. I’ve learned that when I trust in myself and my abilities, I’m better able to manage the stress and unique challenges that comes from running my own business.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’m a big believer in having new experiences; whatever “new” means for you. For me, it’s anything that involves unique foods or colorful, over the top pop up events. I am not a big bar hopper and prefer to spend time chatting one on one or in a small group because that’s when you really get to connect with someone; to hear their story and share a laugh. If I want over the top dessert adventures, I’m stopping at Black Tap in Anaheim for an elaborate milkshake, overflowing with giant pieces of cake and ice cream sandwiches. Then, we’re headed to Sweet in Hollywood for custom made candy bars. We’ll finish the day with custom donuts from Donut Friend in Highland Park. If I’m in a savory mood, we’ll head over to downtown LA for Pizzanista’s Mac and Cheese pizza or Smorgasburg for rows and rows of food booths and trucks so we can try a million things at once. If we haven’t achieved a full fledged food coma by now, we’d stop at the Museum of Dream Space or drive up to Paso Robles to see the Field of Lights.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Anat Cohen, Ph.D – In 2002, I began seeing clients as a trainee therapist, working towards licensure. She was my supervisor at the Pepperdine Community Counseling Center. Jumping into the room as the ‘expert’ when you have no experience is a daunting task. I had good instincts but I doubted them at the time because everything was so new. Dr. Cohen was a phenomenal guide and encouraged me to listen to those instincts and it gave me the confidence to grow into my skills. I wouldn’t be the psychotherapist I am today without her wise words, kindness and support.

Website: https://www.lifeissuespsychotherapy.com/
Instagram: AllisonCohenMFT
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Allison-Cohen-MA-MFT-132037466865269
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/AllisonCohenMAMFT?reload=9

Image Credits
Hylah Hedgepeth Photography