Alison Dagger
MA, LPMT, LCPC, LPC, MT-BC
I’m a mixture of go with the flow and get things done kind of person. I have a passion for getting to know you and helping you discover the roots of your suffering. I believe strongly that there is no “one size fits all” to healing and I employ knowledge from all of my training and experience to help you finally find answers and thrive. My clients often feel sensitive to the moods of those around them and struggle with self-worth. I specialize in treating anxiety, grief & loss, developmental and collective trauma, and C-PTSD.
I pursued becoming a psychotherapist and music therapist after discovering a passion for healing within my own creative pursuits and therapy journey. Before coming to the world of health, I bounced around careers working in the non-profit sector, in marketing, and as a baker & pastry chef. I am a life long musician and all around creative person. My career since becoming a therapist includes work with diverse peoples suffering from the after effects of abuse, neglect, systemic marginalization, and traumatic loss.
I am an explorer and traveller at heart and find this informs my work along with my personal story as a Jewish American and granddaughter to survivors of the Holocaust. I grew up in Vermont and it continues to be my happy place. Therefore, you’ll find I may hold virtual sessions from there every so often. I am most myself being in nature, hanging out with furry friends, attending live shows, singing, creating art, and making music.
I am a trauma specialist and tend to always see things through a trauma informed lens. This means I ask “what happened to you” not “what’s wrong with you.” This may look like diving into past traumas, family relationships, or your cultural history. It could also look like dealing with perfectionism, people pleasing/self sacrificing, comparing yourself to others, intellectualizing, emotional reactivity, scheduling & concentration challenges, energy issues, emotional numbness/dissociating from your body, and relationship struggles.
My interest in using music and creative expression to support survivors of trauma started as a graduate student studying Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Music Therapy at Lesley University. As an intern, I worked in assisted living, memory care, and then providing partial hospitalization services to adolescents struggling with suicidal ideation and behavior issues. I noticed music gave my clients the ability to express what words alone could not and helped them feel less alone.
After graduating with my masters, I moved to Pittsburgh where I worked as a therapist for 4 years treating survivors of crime, adults struggling with identity and life transitions, teens in the foster care system, and healthcare providers. These individuals often felt disconnected from their bodies, their communities, and who they used to be. Music and creative expression acted as tools for self discovery, story narration, and healing out of control autonomic survival responses.
I try to make healing and wellness accessible and inclusive. Think of me as your wing woman to healing. I’ll hold the map, but you’ll decide where we venture. Together, we will explore what beliefs no longer serve you and help you move into a future of your own design full of meaning and purpose.
ALISON’S SPECIALTIES
Trauma
Coping with uncertainty
Managing body’s responses to stress
Intergenerational pain
Appeasing, self-sacrificing & people pleasing
Self-worth, shame, and guilt
Anxiety
Perfectionism
Managing physical discomfort & distress
Feeling stuck
Imposter Syndrome
Forgetfulness
Integrative Music Therapy
Music assisted relaxation & release
Using music & imagery to understand your inner world
Sharing the music you feel seen by
Story narration through lyrics & sound
Singing together
Somatic Awareness Building
Understanding your felt sense
Listening to your gut
Somatic parts exploration
Movement & breath
Exploring window of tolerance
Life & Relationships
Dysfunctional family experiences
Dating & partnership
Work/life balance
Identity exploration
Friendship & community
Parenting
Grief & Loss
Navigating loneliness & hopelessness
Honoring loss of loved ones (furry friends included!)
Ambiguous grief
Qualifications & Training
Education:
Goucher College- Bachelor of Arts in Music Performance, 2008
Lesley University- Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a specialization in Music Therapy, 2019
License & Certification
Licensed Professional Music Therapist (LPMT) in state of Maryland #LC14851
Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) in state of Maryland #LC14851
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in state of Pennsylvania #PC015071
Board Certified Music Therapist (MT-BC) nation wide
Specialized Training
Trauma focused care with victims of crime, abusive relationships, and traumatic loss
Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
Collectively Rooted- presentations and trainings by leaders in integrating expressive arts and trauma informed care
Embody Labs- presentations and trainings by leaders in integrating somatic healing
Clinical applications of Polyvegal theory in trauma treatment with Stephen Porges and Deb Dana
Stages of Change
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Stabilization
To one extent or another, we typically begin by helping you build better systems for managing stressors and responsibilities. This could mean learning healthier coping strategies, implementing routines that are more supportive of your goals, or helping you understand why things have been such a struggle. This time is also essential for building a strong therapeutic relationship where you feel safe and understood.
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Confrontation
My goal is to help you recover, not just manage your symptoms. Many struggle with avoidance driven by fear responses to revisiting their overwhelming experiences. Therefore, part of our work together will be helping you identify pain points (otherwise known as triggers), exploring the ways these continue to hold you hostage, and empowering you to move through them so you can take back ownership of your life. This might sound scary, but I promise we will go at your pace and I’ll be with you every step of the way. It’s okay if you don’t have any clue where to begin.
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Re-Integration
Wait… there’s more?! Yes, indeed. Many folks feel uncertain and find it difficult to trust themselves with this new found joy in their life. We’ll work together to help you feel confident, skilled, and ready to face life’s challenges on your own, knowing you can handle anything that comes your way. Therapy will always be here as a back-up, but my goal is that you will have the routines, skills, and confidence you need to live a happy, meaningful, and purposeful life without my assistance. Remember, there is no straight path to healing. These stages rarely occur clearly. Think of these more as a guide for how our work together might progress.
FAQ’s
How often is therapy and for how long?
Alison meets with clients on a weekly or biweekly basis. It is encouraged that you commit to weekly therapy for the first 3 months so that we can build a strong relationship and you can start seeing progress right away. However, we can explore together what feels best for you and your budget. After that, we will discuss whether weekly or biweekly sessions are appropriate for you.
How long will I need to be in therapy?
How long you’re in therapy for depends on what you are wanting to address. Alison offers depth psychotherapy with skill based practices which means this work could take on average 4-6 months to a year. Your process cannot be rushed. Many clients have chosen to remain in therapy for much longer. Some people choose to stay because they have seen improvements and still really enjoy having ongoing support and a place to process their thoughts and feelings each week.
Do you accept insurance?
Alison will accept Aetna insurance through a platform called Alma. You can reach out for more information. However, Your Tempo Healing is considered an out-of-network (OON) provider. What this means is that, although we do not take insurance, you can be reimbursed for part of your session through insurance using OON benefits. If you have these benefits, insurance could reimburse up to 60-80% of the cost of each session. This is subject to each individual plan. You can call your insurance company directly to find out the specifics of your plan, or use this free benefits checker from Mentaya to get an idea of what you could expect for a reimbursement: mentaya.co/b/YNsqafrN1npqaHFkDYig. When using OON benefits, you will be responsible for paying for each session in full at the time of the appointment. Then we can provide you with a special receipt for services, called a Superbill, that you can submit to your provider for reimbursement. Alternatively, Your Tempo Healing partners with Mentaya to support you in submitting claims. Mentaya charges a 5% fee per claim to use this service, but they will take care of submitting your claims and any follow-up needed to make sure you receive your reimbursement stress free. Ask Alison for a list of questions to ask your insurance provider if you don’t know where to start.
How much does therapy cost?
Initial 15-20 minute consultation call is free
Intake Appointment & Assessment is $255/ 60 minute session
Recurring Appointments are $235/ 50-55 minute session
What can I expect in my intro call?
When you schedule your call through the inquiry form, you will be prompted to answer a few questions about what’s bringing you into therapy and about your personal health history. Alison will respond to you within 24-48 hours to identify an agreed upon time for the call and how you would like to speak- via phone or video. During the call, Alison will ask if there’s anything else you’d like to know in order to feel confident moving forward with an initial intake appointment and assessment. Then we’ll go over practice policies and schedule your first session if appropriate.
What can I expect in the first session?
Before the appointment Alison will send you a few quick forms and mood assessments to complete. You must have these done 24 hours in advance of the intake appointment, otherwise Alison will reach out to reschedule with you for a later date. For Teletherapy clients, you’ll also receive a link for the video call via email. During this first session we’ll get a much better sense of each other. Alison will ask you questions to better understand your personal history and main concerns. Before the end, we will come up with a couple goals to address what you hope to accomplish in therapy.
Good Faith Estimate for Psychotherapy clients
You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical care will cost. Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the bill for medical items and services.
You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency items or services. This includes related costs like medical tests, prescription drugs, equipment, and hospital fees. Make sure your health care provider gives you a Good Faith Estimate in writing at least 1 business day before your medical service or item. You can also ask your health care provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule an item or service.
If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill. Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate. For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call 800-985-3059.