Ali Pinkerton, AMFT
I believe therapy should be an authentic, culturally sensitive, and client-centered space where we can work together to figure out what you truly want out of life, identify what is standing in your way, and clear those blocks. The exact path we take is entirely dependent on your or your family’s unique needs, preferences, experiences, and strengths. Whatever approach we use, my goal is to help guide you toward the most meaningful and joy-filled life possible.
My approach is warm, collaborative, and nurturing, infused with humor and, when the moment calls for it, a dose of directness. While I bring clinical training into the room, I believe you are the ultimate expert on your own life. I’m just here to help you clear the path and get moving, starting exactly where you are right now.
Services
• Individual
• Teens & Adolescents
• Children
• Families
About My Clients
My specialty is working with autistic and "highly sensitive" individuals of all ages. In addition, and often alongside that, I love working with people who are discovering or re-discovering their identity or navigating complex trauma. I also have a deep passion for working with intellectualizers, people who feel "too broken" for therapy, and caregivers or parents of autistic and sensitive individuals.
My Background & Approach
Having spent time working in family crisis care, residential settings with adults, and specialized schools with autistic and ADHD youth, I’m no stranger to sitting with the messy, complicated, heavy parts of life. I operate from a neurodiversity-affirming, humanistic lens, meaning there are no one-size-fits-all, compliance-based solutions here. I'm not interested in trying to change your or your child's core identity or in forcing anyone into a rigid box. I’m interested in exploring identity as a means for unearthing greater authenticity and connection to the people and world around you. Whether we are working together individually, supporting your child, or navigating complex family dynamics, I'm here to help you unpack what's in the way so you can move forward on your own terms.
Techniques I Use
Neurodiversity-Affirming Framework • Humanistic & Attachment-Based Therapies • Narrative Therapy • Certified in ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) and DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) • Art & Play Therapy Techniques
Areas of Focus
Autism (ASD) • Neurodiversity & “Highly Sensitive Persons”• Complex Trauma & PTSD • Identity Exploration • Intellectualizers • LGBTQIA+ Issues • Religious Trauma • Caregiver & Parent Burnout • Anxiety • Depression • Major Life Transitions • Mid-Life Transitions • Executive Dysfunction