Liz McAllister
LMSW, LGSW
As a Licensed Graduate Social Worker (LGSW/LMSW) I bring nearly two decades of experience supporting children, young adults, and parents in the DC area. I believe therapy is most effective when it is collaborative, thoughtful, and paced in a way that allows clients to feel safe, understood, and empowered throughout the process. My clinical approach is integrative and trauma-informed, drawing from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), psychodynamic therapy, humanistic approaches, strengths-based therapy, and family systems perspectives.
I work with clients to build emotional regulation skills, understand patterns in relationships and behavior, process past experiences, and navigate life transitions with greater clarity and confidence.
I live in Maryland with my husband and our three children. I am a firm believer that a change of setting/scenery can do wonders and deeply value time spent outdoors.
MY FOCUS
My practice is focused on supporting people navigating anxiety, trauma, major life transitions, and coping with the challenges and stressors that accompany parenthood. It is easy to lose yourself in the day to day routines and changes that come with each new stage of parenting. I aim to help you find yourself and move through challenges while maintaining a sense of self, honoring who you are in this moment and who you want to become.
I have a great deal of personal experience navigating complex health challenges both for myself and my children. I understand how exhausting it can be to advocate for yourself and your child across a variety of systems.
I have experience providing care to the LGBTQIA+ community and welcome to show up wholly as you are.
Healing happens through connection.
Connection and trust are vital to our work together. I strive to create a warm, supportive, and nonjudgmental space where clients feel comfortable exploring challenges and working toward meaningful and sustainable change.
MY EXPERIENCE
I earned a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Maryland, Baltimore, a Master of Education and Human Development from George Washington University, and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Dickinson College, majoring in Music/Vocal Performance. I spent five years as an elementary special education teacher working with students with emotional and behavioral disabilities. A firm believer in child led learning, I took my expertise out of the classroom and spent several years delivering mission driven educational services in my local community by facilitating child-directed, outdoor, play-based learning classes that allowed me to interact with and support parents in more meaningful ways.
I also spent several years working in early intervention supporting infants, toddlers, and their parents through the pandemic. I have provided therapy to children, adolescents, and adults in outpatient clinics, partial hospitalization programs, school based environments, and private practice settings since 2023.
