Designer, age 32
Working with Alison has been an incredibly special and life-changing experience. I came to her in a period of wanting to move forward from a past relationship, eager to find a mate. Instead of talking circles around the issue, Guided Collage felt like a truly refreshing and new perspective to achieving my goal. After a discussion, Alison would assign me a topic or question to collage, many of which seemed impossible to put on paper. Therefore, it was always amazing to see what images eventually ended up on the collage. As I created them, I felt pulled towards certain images - the experience was like stepping out of my head and letting my unconscious speak for me. Even I didn’t know what the completed collage would look like and every time it was a surprise. Looking over them, it clarified what truly was in my heart. Once the collage was completed, Alison and I would have another discussion about it. She guided me through them in what felt like a mix of therapy, play therapy and symbology. She illuminated issues and guided me through barriers I hadn’t even realized existed, creating new energy around the subject at hand. It was a thoroughly unique way of problem solving and goal setting that I had never experienced before.
Guided Collage took me deep inside my core stirring up a full range of emotions, including having to journey some dark spaces in order to move into the light. But always, I felt safe and incredibly supported by Alison, having full confidence and trust in her. Even with the most emotionally challenging collages, I always looked forward to our discussions, knowing it was going to be very revealing, interesting and fun. This has been such a magical experience, amazingly positive and eye opening. I urge anyone wanting to move forward and gain clarity in life to give it a try.
Attorney, age 42
I worked with Alison to create a collage in the midst of a career search and eventual career change. As a guy with a limited background in articulating feelings and emotions, I took comfort in the fact that I didn't need to express anything at first -- the pictures I included in my collage spoke for themselves. The collage then served to catalyze a very productive and thought-provoking conversation, and revealed things about me that would not have come out in a regular conversation. The collage process helped me identify certain qualities that I need in a job in order to be successful and helped me understand why I wasn't happy in my current situation. I also identified behavior patterns that were preventing me from finding a career that was right for me. After several sessions with Alison, I identified exactly the type of position I wanted and took concrete steps towards getting that position. Within a month of our first session, I accepted a job offer at a law firm that met the qualities I had uncovered through the collage process. Without Guided Collage, I would probably still be locked into an aimless job search instead of starting out on my new career.
Artist, age 58
The collage process with Alison was the most fun, effortless way I've ever encountered to take real steps in effecting a life change. Even though I consider myself a psychologically and visually aware client, I built my collages without being able to fully understand the deeper significance of the images and words I had put together. It was Alison's expertise, drawing on her vast knowledge of psychology, symbol, mythology and meaning, combined with her intuition and empathy, that revealed the secrets buried within. I dislike using the word "magical", but I can think of no better description for this process, which helped me leapfrog over ingrained patterns of behavior, opening up new viewpoints and possibilities. My collage question centered around my career, and during the course of my work with Alison I received a large commission from one client, and made an important business alliance that has the potential to be lucrative for years to come.
Educator, age 30
Guided Collage has been an energizing and empowering experience for me. I wasn't sure what to expect when I first began the process, but quickly found it to be both liberating and inspiring. Alison is incredibly generous and insightful and has helped me open doors that had previously seemed stuck in my life. Focusing on my career helped me identify my goals, pursue and land a job that feels right. Guided Collage has helped me learn more about myself and given me tools and confidence to direct my energy in positive and productive ways.