Ally Silva (she/her)

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) #93160

CLINICAL APPROACH

Being a teenager in today's world is tough. There are so many expectations you feel you have to live up to. You have to balance responsibilities given to you by your parents and school. You have a social life and extracurriculars that are important to you. Social media can show inaccurate depictions of what you should be doing or looking like. I am eager to support you in your journey of personal growth and help you find effective ways to manage your life and become your favorite version of yourself.

My therapy approach is client-centered and strengths-based. I also incorporate cognitive behavioral therapy, attachment theory, harm reduction, motivational interviewing, and solution-focused therapy frameworks. I have always been passionate about working with teens and helping them discover their identities as they prepare for the world of adulthood. I enjoy working with many challenges teens face, but I particularly enjoy working with challenges in partner relationships, communication issues, boundary-setting needs, trauma, those in the LGTBQIA+ community, and life transitions.

I like to be direct with my clients while sprinkling in some humor where it is appropriate. I will meet you where you are and support you with finding ways to navigate the stressors of life while also celebrating areas of growth with you. I want to use your strengths and passions to help you find a path forward that you feel confident about.

ABOUT ME

I like to refer to myself as quirky - someone who can laugh at themselves, and someone who loves puns and dad jokes. I always wanted to be a therapist. I learned during my time as a substitute teacher for a middle school and work with transition-age youth (16-20) that teens were be the population I simply had to specialize in. If I can help teens develop the coping, self-soothing, and communication skills that I hadn't quite honed when I was a teenager myself, they will feel more prepared for their next phase of life. Doing therapy with me is like chatting with a cool aunt: I'll hold space for you to process, vent, celebrate wins, and reflect, but I'll also give you “real talk” and challenge you to step outside your comfort zone.

In my time away from work, I can be found playing volleyball with my rec league, watching the 49ers and Sharks, dressing up for a Renaissance Faire, watching SVU or Netflix dating shows, listening to music, and finding fun local places to eat.

SERVICES I OFFER

In-person & virtual sessions for:

  • Individual Therapy (Teens)

THERAPEUTIC MODALITIES & PRACTICES I USE

  • Mindfulness

  • Motivational Interviewing

  • Narrative Therapy

  • Non-Violent Communication

  • Person-Centered Therapy

  • Problem-Solving Therapy

  • Relational Therapy

  • Solution-Focused Therapy

  • Art Therapy

  • Attachment-Based Therapy

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

  • Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

  • Crisis Intervention

  • Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)

  • Gender Affirmative Clinical Model

  • Humanistic Therapy


SPECIALTIES

  • LGTBQIA+ community/issues/concerns

  • Life transitions

  • Challenges in partner relationships

  • Communication issues and boundary setting

  • Trauma


AREAS OF CONCERN I WORK WITH

  • LGBTQ+ Concerns (Gender Dysphoria, Gender Identity Exploration, Gender Incongruence, Interpersonal Connections, Parenting, Romantic Relationships, Sexual Orientation Exploration, Transitioning)

  • Life Transitions

  • Loneliness

  • Narcissism

  • Neglect

  • Perfectionism

  • Personality Disorders

  • Pessimism

  • Phobias

  • Procrastination & Motivation

  • Psychosis

  • PTSD

  • Relationship Problems

  • Schizophrenia

  • School Avoidance

  • Self-Esteem

  • Self-Harm

  • Sensitivity To Rejection & Criticism

  • Sensory Processing

  • Sexual Assault (Survivor)

  • Shyness

  • Social Skills

  • Spiritual & Religious Issues

  • Stress & Stress Management

  • Substance Use

  • Suicide (Attempted, Ideation)

  • Trauma

  • Trust Issues

  • Abandonment

  • Abuse (Emotional, Verbal, Physical, Sexual) (Survivor)

  • Academic Problems

  • Adoption

  • Anxiety (Generalized, OCD, Panic Attacks, Panic Disorder, Social)

  • Attachment Issues

  • Blended Families

  • Body Dysmorphia

  • Body Image

  • Boundary-setting

  • Bullied By Others

  • Codependency

  • Communication Difficulties

  • Cultural Concerns

  • Death

  • Depression (Major, Seasonal)

  • Discrimination

  • Disordered Eating (Binging, Purging, Restricting)

  • Divorce (Supporting Teens)

  • Domestic Violence

  • Family Conflict

  • Grief, Loss & Bereavement

  • Identity Exploration

  • Illness Within the Family

  • Impulsivity

  • Infidelity/Cheating

  • Intimate Partner Violence

  • Learning Difficulties

  • LGBTQ+ Concerns (Anxiety, Coming Out, Depression, Discrimination from Family/Friends/Community)

* Areas of concern in bold are areas I'm particularly passionate about working with

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

Education:

  • Master of Social Work; BA in Psychology

Work Experience: 

  • Therapist at Teen Therapy Center (2020-present)

  • Licensed Clinical Social Worker/Associate Clinical Social Worker at Bay Area Youth Center DBA Side by Side. Provided clinical case management to transition-aged foster youth in a transitional housing program, used trauma-informed and clinical, strength-based lens. (2016-2020)

  • Social Work Trainee, Support Counselor at Valley Crisis Center. Provided counseling for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking both in-office and at a shelter site. (2015-2016)