Alyssa Gilson Mawson, MA, LMFT
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist
I believe the family is the foundation of our understanding of how to interact and form relationships with people. The family is where we first deal with emotions such as love, happiness, anger, and sadness and how we manage these emotions and conflict affects how we deal with the outside world.
I believe a family’s existing strengths and values should be used to enhance family relationships and inspire its members to live a healthier and happier life.
I create a warm and comfortable environment during sessions that offers individuals a “safe space” to explore their story, and the barriers they perceive may be preventing them from living the life they want to live.
I specialize in treating children and adolescents and have experience dealing with issues including trauma, depression, self-esteem, ADHD/ODD, and relational issues/parenting issues.
I blend creative and child-centered mediums such as art and play therapy techniques to enable children to express themselves more fully and directly. Play is the symbolic language of self-expression and can reveal important messages that children do not have the verbal language to express.
I have always been interested in people and the way people relate to one another. Since a very early age I’ve found myself gravitating towards helping people and trying to understand the complex relationships people have with one another.
I earned by Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Chestnut Hill College, and graduated Magna Cum Laude from Drexel University’s Couple and Family Therapy Master’s Degree Program where I earned the Clinical Excellence Award. My education has allowed me the opportunity to take my fascination with other people and their stories and begin my own unique journey in understanding not only how to become a better person, but a better therapist.