Alison Urban, LCSW, RPT™

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Registered Play Therapist who believes that when people feel truly understood, meaningful change becomes possible. Every child, teen, and young adult I work with already has strengths within them — sometimes they just need support, structure, and a safe relationship to access them.

I specialize in working with children, teens, and young adults navigating anxiety, emotional dysregulation, life transitions, relationship stress, and challenges with self-esteem or identity. Many of the clients I meet feel overwhelmed by big behaviors, constant worry, school struggles, or patterns that don’t seem to improve despite their best efforts. My role is to slow things down, understand what’s driving those patterns, and help build skills that create lasting change.

With children, I use Play Therapy in a prescriptive way— an evidence-based approach that allows kids to communicate through play, their natural language. Through carefully selected interventions, I help children strengthen emotional regulation, increase resilience, and practice new ways of responding to frustration, fear, or anger. I work closely with parents throughout the process, providing insight and practical tools so you feel confident supporting your child outside of sessions. I view parents as partners, and collaboration is central to the work we do.

With teens, I create a space where they feel respected, heard, and not judged. Adolescence can bring intense emotions, shifting friendships, academic pressure, and growing independence — all at once. I integrate Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Solution-Focused Therapy, and mindfulness to help teens build emotional regulation skills, challenge negative thinking patterns, improve communication, and develop confidence in who they are becoming. Therapy with teens is collaborative, practical, and focused on helping them feel steadier and more capable in their everyday lives.

With young adults, our work often goes a layer deeper. This stage of life can bring identity questions, relationship challenges, career uncertainty, and pressure to “have it all together.” In addition to CBT, DBT, mindfulness, and Solution-Focused strategies, I incorporate Inner Child work to help clients understand how earlier experiences may still be shaping their current patterns. Together, we build insight, self-compassion, and practical tools that support lasting change — not just symptom relief, but a stronger sense of self-trust.

Clients often describe me as warm, steady, and direct in a way that feels safe. I believe behavior makes sense when we understand the story underneath it, and I balance compassion with gentle accountability. Whether you are seeking support for your child or for yourself, my goal is to create a space where you feel respected, equipped, and hopeful.

If you are ready to take the next step, I would be honored to connect and explore how we can work together.