Daylight Therapy Group | Allison Marek, LCSW-S

A proud native Houstonian, I graduated from Houston's High School for the Performing and Visual Arts and started college as a musical theatre major at Boston Conservatory at Berklee- going along the path I had charted for myself years ago and was afraid to veer from. Yet, when I was watching Hurricane Katrina coverage from my Back Bay apartment, the pull toward the helping professions became undeniable. It hit me: "I'd rather be helping at the Astrodome than in ballet class right now. It's time for a change."

I went on to earn my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and my Master of Social Work from the University of Houston, where I developed specialties in Shame Resilience Theory (SRT) and trauma-informed clinical practice. I am also trained in Trauma-Focused Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (TF-EAP), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and Relational-Cultural Therapy (RCT).

Before going into private practice in 2019, I served as program director of an eating disorder treatment center for adolescents and adults. I also worked as a therapist in centers treating post-traumatic stress, depression, anxiety, and substance use. During Hurricane Harvey, I organized and lead the mental health first aid team at BakerRipley's shelter at NRG, which brought my "therapist origin story" full circle.

It is my greatest privilege to be with someone as they see themselves more clearly, fall in love with who they see, and become the main character of their lives.

"Therapy isn't about becoming
'a new person.' It's about becoming more 'you' than you've ever been."