I’m glad you’re here! My name is Alisha but most people call me Ally. I am the founder and clinical director of Out Of The Box Counseling. I believe one of the bravest things you can do is begin to understand your own story. Many people see therapy as a one-sided conversation, with little opportunity for interaction or getting to experience each other as real people. I can promise you that I am as real as it gets! I work with you to help you identify your desires and empower you to make those positive changes in your life. I recognize that making the choice to seek help can be difficult, so I use an approach that is compassionate, direct, and non-judgmental to help create an environment where you feel supported in your counseling journey.

A little about me—I received my master’s degree in counseling from Webster University however I am a Florida Girl and bleed garnet and gold! GO NOLES! I come from a large military family and enjoy listening to music, spending time with family and friends, working out, and just enjoying the small things in life. I have lived in Jacksonville, Florida, or as the natives say “DUUUUUUVAL” all my life which also means I am a diehard Jaguars fan despite our less than stellar record. I have worked in the mental health and substance abuse field for the past fifteen years in various roles such as children’s case management, substance abuse specialist for adults and adolescents at an outpatient treatment center, substance abuse counselor at a methadone clinic, an emergency evaluator for individuals experiencing a psychiatric crisis who may need inpatient treatment, a primary therapist at a mental health and substance abuse rehab center, and contract work at a group private practice. During the summer of 2020, I made the decision to step out of my comfort zone and opened Out Of The Box Counseling on Juneteenth 2020. The pandemic helped me recognize the need to provide support regardless of where we are and from personal experience through my own therapeutic process I was able to recognize the multiple benefits of online therapy. Shortly after opening Out Of The Box Counseling, I received the 2021 UNF Black Alumni Award for Achievement in Psychology. I am certified in Brainspotting, and trained in EMDR and DBT Skills Training.

You can check out my acceptance of the UNF Black Alumni Award at this link: UNF Black Alumni 2021 Achievement Award in Psychology

Life is too short to surrender to bad relationships, hold grudges, let trauma control us, or be anxious/angry all the time. I work with adults experiencing concerns including addiction, depression, anxiety, grief, histories of abuse and trauma, existential crises, interpersonal conflicts, borderline personality disorder, and mood disorders. I help you heal through past traumas, manage and regulate your emotions, and gain a better understanding of your story. You deserve to live a life that leaves you excited to wake up every morning.