Continued Growth and Learning

During this period of her career, Alison sought out extensive training, including Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA), to better support her clients with autism. While she faithfully implemented the technique, she found that the results were often inconsistent, and the benefits for some clients were limited. It became clear to her that no single methodology could address all of a child's needs or solve every challenge. This realization motivated Alison to pursue additional conferences and training wherever possible, and she began developing her own techniques, always striving to find better, more effective methods. Her dedication to continuous improvement has made her highly skilled in various approaches, enabling her to draw from the best techniques available to suit each client's unique needs.

A Life-Altering Experience

Alison believes that life presents challenges in order to teach us valuable lessons, which can then be passed on to others. At the age of 32, she experienced a life-changing stroke due to undiagnosed high blood pressure. The stroke affected her speech, as well as her fine and gross motor skills. Doctors initially predicted a lengthy recovery period, and Alison was no longer able to drive. Determined to regain her independence, she took her rehabilitation into her own hands. She devoured books and articles on stroke recovery, dedicating herself to the process with relentless focus.

Over the course of several months, Alison worked tirelessly on improving her coordination, strength, tactile sensation, and speech. Her persistence paid off: within nine months, she was able to regain her driver's license and had astounded her medical team at Barrow’s Neurological Institute in Phoenix with her remarkable recovery.

This experience reinforced Alison’s belief in the power of self-advocacy, determination, and education. During her recovery, she continued to educate herself and work with her clients, constantly refining her approach to meet their evolving needs.

Expanding Her Expertise

As Alison worked with more families, she realized that the challenges families faced often extended beyond her scope of practice. Many parents were struggling not only with their child's needs but also with issues like marriage and family counseling. This led Alison to pursue further education in Human Services. While running her consulting business full-time, Alison earned her degree with top honors, graduating with a 4.0 GPA. This additional training has been invaluable in helping her provide compassionate support to the families she works with, reinforcing the importance of strength, love, and resilience within the family unit.

Discovering a New Approach

In 1999, Alison connected with a local group of mothers working with an international organization focused on developmental support. She began referring her clients to the organization for evaluations and program design. Intrigued by the results her clients were achieving, Alison traveled across the country to observe evaluations and learn directly from the organization’s founder. This experience deepened her understanding of developmental and behavioral strategies, adding another layer to her already broad and diverse skill set.