Meet the Team: Allison Nelson, LCSW, CASAC, Family & Couples Therapist

Freedom Institute was founded in 1976 by Mona Mansell, a recovering alcoholic. Having seen the effects of her alcoholism on her own family, Mona formed one of the country’s first intervention programs, unique in its involvement of family members in the client’s treatment and recovery process. From the outset, Freedom Institute addressed the needs of the whole family, not just the identified patient. The first family groups started at Freedom Institute in 1999. To this day, healing families is central to our mission and we are recognized as the leader at the intersection of family therapy and substance abuse treatment. Freedom Institute is the only recovery center in the country to combine Intensive Outpatient Programming with a family systems approach, integrating Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)and Relational Family Therapy.

Allison Nelson, LCSW, CASAC is the latest addition to our team. Allison earned her Master’s in Social Work from New York University and has completed post-graduate training in Family Therapy from the Ackerman Institute for the Family. In addition, Allison has training and experience in trauma-focused treatment and is a certified EMDR therapist. As part of our team, Allison provides family, couple, and individual therapy, and facilitates therapeutic support groups for significant others suffering the effects of addiction.

What brought you to this work?

Growing up with five siblings, I learned the early importance of connections. Focusing on relationships has always been important to me. Becoming a family therapist was a natural progression from my role as family mediator.

Tell us about your area of expertise and/or passion?What keeps you in this work?

I’m passionate about joining with our clients to increase their connectedness with themselves and their families. Mental health and substance abuse issues both create and arise from isolation. Connection with others is critical in life and the clinical programs at Freedom Institute focus a lot on relationships, which play a big part in one’s growth in recovery.

What do you appreciate about working at Freedom Institute?

I appreciate working alongside dedicated and talented clinicians at Freedom Institute. I’m continuously inspired by the compassion they bring to their clients and the desire to help them move to a place of thriving in recovery.

What do you do in your spare time?

I keep busy chasing after my spirited, toddler son, Leo. And when I can find the time, I enjoy gardening, outdoor activities, and spending time with my family and friends.