About the Owner

Alison Cleary Urban, LCSW

Alison is a clinical social worker and therapist specializing in children from birth to twelve. She holds an interdisciplinary BA in psychology and sociology from Loyola University Maryland, and an MSW in mental health from University of Maryland School of Social Work. Between these degrees, Alison worked in case management with two Head Start / Early Head Start programs in the city of Baltimore.

As a graduate student, Alison completed extensive field work with the UMD School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry: School Mental Health Program. In this role she treated children ages 5-14 at a Baltimore elementary/middle school. After graduation she joined the Department’s Secure Starts Clinic, partnering with families and treating children from birth to 6 in school/childcare, community, and clinic based settings.

After moving to Connecticut in 2011, Alison worked for eleven years as a school based therapist through Community Health Center, Inc. In this role she has provided a range of therapies to children in the city of New Britain, at Smalley Elementary followed by Vance Elementary.

Alison has received training in symbolic play therapy; sand tray therapy; attachment-focused approaches including NCAST and Theraplay; the Preschool PTSD Treatment protocol; Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TFCBT); and a variety of therapeutic art and music interventions. She brings a particular joy to working with clients during their early childhood and school years, and partnering with the caregivers who love them. As a parent of three children ages 10, 8 and 6, Alison approaches her work with other families from a place of humility, empathy and humor. She is driven by the spunk and resilience of kids.