Allison Gilbert, LMFT - Marriage & Family Therapist

Education Background

Allison Gilbert, LMFT graduated from UCSC in 1981 with a Bachelors degree in Psychology.  She went on to John F. Kennedy University when it was located in Orinda and got her Masters degree in Transpersonal Counseling Psychology.  She wrote her Masters Thesis on using Tarot as a Self-Help Tool.  She then taught workshops on the subject called, "Tarot: The Looking Glass Teacher".  She worked at the time under her maiden name: Allison Pokras.  When she got her license in Marriage and Family Therapy, in 1985, she worked for a psychiatrist in Long Beach, CA., leading groups in Los Altos Medical Hospital.  Around the same time, she taught workshops for eating and food compulsions/addictions, called, "Feeding Your Heart's Content".  These workshops were based on the work by Geneen Roth.  (See GeneenRoth.com)   Her private practice was in Hermosa Beach, CA.  

Time Off & Training

In 1994, Allison had her first child and took a long time off from her practice, doing volunteer work in her kids' schools, including PTA president for Westlake.  She felt that her job as a mother was a more worthwhile pursuit to put her time into than working as a therapist.   She also couldn't imagine taking care of herself and her family while also keeping a practice going.  So in order to decrease stress, she took time off and that ended up being ten years.  When she was ready to start back up again, she felt really out of it and insecure as a therapist.  So Allison took many classes and trainings in different treatment methods.  She learned Psych-K, Hypnotherapy, Enneagram, Eye Movement Therapy and EFT and she uses all of these techniques in her practice as needed.

Helping Moms

In 2004, she started her practice up again, but this time under the name of Allison Gilbert.  She created a website for mothers called Mothers Have Needs Too and started teaching a class for moms called, "Motherhood:  Nurturing the Work of Heart".  She also volunteered in assisting Maggie Muir at the Postpartum Wellness Group at Sutter Hospital.  After all that time at home with her own children, she knew first hand how hard a job that is and how important it is for children and society as a whole.  She wanted to create a website to support moms because taking care of yourself when you are caring for others can be a difficult task.  Allison's heart is with mothers and so she wrote many articles that are on that site that are geared to helping moms feel good about themselves.  She has two kids, a boy who's 15 and a girl who's 12.  They went to Natural Bridges, Westlake, Mission Hill and now are at PCS.  

Breast Cancer

After being back to her practice for four years, Allison was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer.  It was a devastating diagnosis and treatment but the one thing that kept her going besides friends and family was her work.  She says she couldn't have made it through without knowing she had something more to give to this world.  She has come out of the fire a stronger person, more self-accepting and better able to make the best of whatever life throws at you.  She is also more aware of the value of being alive and how precious life is.  Relationships & self-improvement have taken on a higher priority in her life.  She's also come to realize how important her spiritual life is.  Allison brings much of what she's learned from her battle with cancer into her work as a therapist.  She believes that sometimes hitting bottom and facing death can be the most healing of all experiences.

Jewish Mysticism

Allison is Jewish and has been a student of Jewish Mysticism all of her life.  In 1981, she attended the University of Judaism in Los Angeles and completed one year of their rabbinic program.  There she learned Talmud, Jewish Philosophy and Jewish Law.  Then in 1982, when she started at John F. Kennedy Univ., she spent a year with Daniel Matt at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, learning the Zohar.  Being that Allison did a Religious Studies minor at UCSC and got her masters in Transpersonal psychology, she has learned a lot about many different religions.  Today she finds her home in Hasidic philosophy and Kabbalah, studying (when she can!) with Rabbi Yochanon Friedman of Chabad by the Sea.  She says she'd like to be more religiously observant but still enjoys prayer, Jewish holidays, and learning Torah.  She is able to read Hebrew fluently but can't always translate everything.

Hobbies

One of Allison's hobbies is Israeli Folk Dancing.  She knows around 20 - 30 Isreali folk dances and loves dancing for her exercise.  She loves the computer and can spend hours at a time searching or writing.  That's why email advising is so enjoyable for her.  Allison loves writing.  She also loves reading novels, watching TV and listening to iPod downloads from Chabad.org  Allison's favorite walk is in the redwoods.  Her favorite pastime is laughing with her children.

Set Up An Appointment with Allison Gilbert, LMFT by CLICKING HERE or Call her at (831) 425-4475 or email her at aworkofheart@att.net