Our Staff
Allison Hardy
MSW
About Me
Do you feel “stuck?” In life, relationships, or difficult situations?
Feel like you can't decide what to do because you don't know what you want?
Does it bother you that important people in your life say you drink too much because you have a few drinks to relax or unwind after work? Or just because you enjoy being with friends and like to party?
If you experience unpredictable changes in mood or intense feelings of depression, anxiety, or anger, you are not alone. You may also find it difficult to control behaviors that are harmful to you or the people you care about most. It can be extremely frustrating to feel like no matter what you do, it's never good enough.
For many people, having a drink or getting high can feel like the only way to relax or deal with stressful situations and uncomfortable feelings. You may be thinking about cutting back on your drinking or drug use but want to explore your options.
I provide supervised counseling services for adults and adolescents experiencing problems with substance abuse and other addictions, emotional and behavioral disorders, stress and anxiety, depression, relationships, and life transitions. I understand the nature of addiction and have seen how difficult it can be for those suffering from alcohol, drug, or other addictions to maintain control over their lives.
I work with clients to develop individualized treatment plans that are based on each individual client's specific needs and unique personal preferences. This can often make the difference between a counseling experience that feels like a waste of time and one that gives you the tools you need to make positive changes on your own.
Counseling can help by changing the way you think.
Changing the way you think can change your life.
My Experience
I spent several years working in clinical research trials for alcohol and drug abuse/addiction in the Institute of Psychiatry at the Medical University of South Carolina . I was fortunate in working with prominent addiction professionals; nationally and internationally known researchers and clinicians conducting cutting-edge research studies and translating findings into clinical treatment models for alcohol and drug disorders. Coordination of study procedures in both treatment and non-treatment studies focused on direct patient contact daily. The ability to be friendly, knowledgeable, ready to listen, and to show an appropriate level of concern for patients' well-being is essential in building a close professional relationship with patients based on trust and confidence. Maintaining this type of rapport can provide support to patients while encouraging compliance with study requirements.
Previously, I worked with clients in a medically monitored weight loss program to provide emotional support and assist clients in following personalized treatment plans developed to promote weight loss through diet and nutrition education, treatment of comorbid conditions, and skill building. Being available for consultation and creating a personal connection with clients is helpful in increasing motivation to make drastic diet and lifestyle changes on their own.
I interned and worked in an out-patient mental health day program, providing supervised case management, client advocate services, and group interventions to clients living with severe, persistant mental illness. Direct practice targeted the enhancement of skills related to independent functioning while providing a system of support.
As a former MSW Intern at the Banyan Tree and Recovery Café, my clinical social work experience came to include supervised practice with adults and adolescents experiencing problems with alcohol and/or other drugs, other addictions, emotional and behavioral disorders, and difficulty adjusting to major life changes. Now, with a professional degree, I continue supervised practice providing counseling and educational services to individuals and groups.
My Education
I have a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Georgia and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the College of Charleston.
