Rashad McAllister (They/them/theirs)

I’m a Level 1 IFS therapist and I adapt the IFS model to individual client systems to support clients who are learning how to live as a system within our society while healing the trauma that led them to develop as a system in childhood. I combine this approach with other perspectives that help clients to feel understood and validated, including showing my compassion and unconditional positive regard for my clients.

Prior to my own gender transition, I have independently researched experiences of non-conforming gender identities, gender dysphoria, and gender diversity across cultures, as well as pursued both formal coursework and continuing education in LGBTQ+ issues. As a trans non-binary therapist I bring my combination of lived experiences and education to support clients who are exploring their gender identity and/or who are at any stage of their gender transition.

Prior to beginning my own gender transition, I have independently researched experiences of non-conforming gender identities, gender dysphoria, and gender diversity across cultures, as well as pursued both formal coursework and continuing education in LGBTQ+ issues. As a trans non-binary therapist I bring my combination of lived experiences and education to support clients who are exploring their gender identity and/or who are at any stage of their gender transition.

My training as a Level 1 IFS therapist has become the foundation from which I work with clients diagnosed with personality disorders. I combine this with my understanding of early childhood (especially attachment/relational) trauma and training in DBT, ACT, and motivational interviewing to support clients with practical skills along with long term healing. I believe we all deserve compassion and even behaviors that confuse ourselves and others can be understood with empathy.

I excel at combining different therapy methods to create unique, tailored approaches for each individual client. I do not follow scripts or manuals--my style is adaptable, responsive, and creative. Everyone has unique strengths and needs that shift over time. I can support folks who may start out needing skills support using DBT/CBT, then move on to insight-oriented work, or take to IFS/parts work immediately, or need time to absorb IFS, or who love mindfulness and ACT the whole time.

I completed my Level 1 IFS training (an intensive months long process of nearly 90 hours of experiential training, plus many more hours of self-study and practice) in 2024. I am pursuing certification in IFS and continue to learn and grow my skills through consultation and continuing education. My clients have reached major breakthroughs since we began using IFS in our sessions and the response I've had to this form of therapy has been overwhelmingly positive (I love it for my own therapy, too).

In my early training as a therapist I was supervised by an extremely experienced and skillful licensed clinical social worker who had used motivational interviewing for about 30 years. He had a vast amount of experience in treating substance use disorders. With his guidance, I was able to absorb the principles of MI into my everyday practice and these days I use these skills somewhat automatically in my sessions. I have also studied the core book on MI as part of my training.

I completed my Level 1 IFS training (an intensive months long process of nearly 90 hours of experiential training, plus many more hours of self-study and practice) in 2024. I am pursuing certification in IFS and continue to learn and grow my skills through consultation and continuing education. My clients have reached major breakthroughs since we began using IFS in our sessions and the response I've had to this form of therapy has been overwhelmingly positive (I love it for my own therapy, too).

In my early training as a therapist I was supervised by an extremely experienced and skillful licensed clinical social worker who had used motivational interviewing for about 30 years. He had a vast amount of experience in treating substance use disorders. With his guidance, I was able to absorb the principles of MI into my everyday practice and these days I use these skills somewhat automatically in my sessions. I have also studied the core book on MI as part of my training.