Alison Hadley received her Masters of Social Work from EWU’s School of Social Work and Human Services in March 1980. Prior to this, she received a BA in Psychology from Eastern Washington University in 1975 after attending both WSU and University of Hawaii. After participating in thousands of hours of supervised clinical social work training beyond the Masters, she became a member of the National Association of Social Workers, the Academy of Certified Social Workers, and a Diplomate in Clinical Social Work.

Within the State of Washington Alison is both a Licensed Advanced Social Worker and a Licensed Independent Social Worker with the State Department of Licensing. Additionally, she is Certified at the Continuing Level by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction to provide School Social Work services (inactive status). This represents training and experience specifically in educational settings. The combination of both clinical and educational social work offers quality multi-disciplinary expertise for children, teens, and families with psycho-social and school-related needs.

Alison has been Certified as a Clinical Hypnotherapist through the Academy of Clinical Hypnotherapist Examiners. Hypnotherapy skills are used specifically for treatment—for example, Regression Hypnotherapy, Visualization, Guided Imagery, and Relaxation Induction.

Alison is Certified in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing) through the EMDRIA (International Association). In addition she has FBI Critical Incident Stress Debriefing training through EMDRIA, continues to train in all aspects of this methodology as she has observed its effectiveness in the treatment of anxiety-related traumas.

Alison is Certified as a Gestalt Psychotherapist with the Violet Oaklander Ph.D. Institute of Santa Barbara, California. This training involved both beginning and advanced courses under the direct guidance of Dr.Oaklander, who wrote the classical Play Therapy/Gestalt book, Windows to Our Children. Alison has specialized in this work with children and teens for several years, and uses these skills with children individually, and with groups. Use of Art, Sand Tray, Therapeutic Games, Puppets, Psychodrama, and other Expressive Arts Therapies are included.

Alison specializes in working with Grief & Loss issues; Post-Traumatic Stress issues, including child to adult post-sexual abuse, and Educational Psychology areas. Alison serves periodically as an Adjunct Faculty member of the School of Social Work & Human Services of EWU. She also serves as a Member of the Mental Health Licensing Committee of the WA. State Department of Health.

Therapeutic orientation is broad, choosing methodology in collaboration with the client, and individually geared. Philosophically and practically, choices for focus would include the above areas, as well as behavior modification, cognitive-behavior therapy, solution-focused, transpersonal, Jungian, and Ericksonian therapies, and Ego Psychology.