About

Allissa is a Social Worker (MSW) and Holistic Art Therapist (TAT) with a passion for helping others reconnect with the meaningful things that make life bright, inspired and regenerative. She believes our capacity for healing and recovery are found in the tiny moments of everyday creativity and connection.

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Creativity has been a thread woven throughout Allissa’s personal and professional journey. Her early study of sociology and anthropology sparked a love of culture; the ways we make things with our hands and our beliefs, and always in relationship to one another. Drawing and writing later became important ways of expressing and making sense of her own experiences as she went on to study applied neurobiology, psychobiology and transpersonal psychology in art therapy practice. This interest continued through her work in acquired brain injury psychosocial support, and into facilitating community arts-based recovery groups. After completing her Master of Social Work, Allissa found a professional framework that brought these perspectives together, with social work’s commitments to human dignity, self-determination and social justice providing a foundation for how she understands and supports people.

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Today, Allissa integrates creative practices into therapy in a way that extends beyond the therapy room, supporting people to discover the creative practices, interests and everyday spaces that already exist within their own lives, whether through making, writing, movement, nature, music, reflection or other forms of expression. This approach can be particularly meaningful within telehealth settings, where therapy has the potential to bridge conversation with environment, relationships and sources of creativity.

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With a professional background spanning clinical therapy, psychosocial support, counselling, support coordination, case management, community development and group facilitation across a range of health and community settings, Allissa brings a broad perspective to recovery. This includes supporting the emotional, behavioural, psychological and spiritual aspects of change alongside the practical challenges that can arise when navigating healthcare systems, chronic illness, disability and major life transitions.

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Allissa’s approach is grounded in the understanding that our minds, bodies and relationships function as adaptive living systems. When we experience prolonged stress, trauma or illness, these systems can become caught in patterns of protection rather than restoration. Therapy provides a compassionate space to understand these patterns, cultivate safety, and support greater flexibility, resilience and wellbeing.

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At Living Systems Health, Allissa offers an integrative therapeutic approach that acknowledges every person’s story is unique. Therapy is therefore tailored to your goals, strengths, values and the things that matter most to you.

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Professional Qualifications & Modalities

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• Master of Social Work (Qualifying)

• Bachelor of Social Science (Sociology & Anthropology)

• Advanced Diploma of Transpersonal Art Therapy (TAT)

• Advanced Clinical Resource Therapy (RT) 

• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)