Meet Alli Perez

I am a registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist, supervised by Jen Sims, LPCC.
I have earned a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Elementary Education and Special Education from
Arizona State University. I later earned my Master’s of Arts in Counseling, with an emphasis on
Marriage and Family Therapy, from Palo Alto University. I am also a Certified Positive Discipline
Parent Educator, as well as an Accredited Triple P Practitioner.

My previous career as an elementary school teacher in an economically disadvantaged
community was also a window to the inner worlds of families, couples, and especially children. I
learned a great deal about people’s struggles - mental health issues, loss, trauma, and
oppression - and witnessed the toll it took on individuals and relationships. I learned that as
much as I loved teaching, I was even more passionate about supporting people through
empowering therapeutic growth experiences.

I decided to change careers, and become a Marriage and Family Therapist. I earned my
Master’s of Arts degree in Counseling from Palo Alto University, with an emphasis on Marriage,
Family, and Child Counseling. During the start of my career, I was able to work as a Mental
Health Clinician at a non-profit organization serving youth of all ages from the same community I
used to teach in, from toddlers to teens, in both Monterey and Santa Cruz counties. I have
additionally worked in various private practice settings over the past few years, working with
individual adults, couples, and families.

I believe that the quality of the relationship between the therapist and client is one of the most
important factors for your growth and healing. In my view, it is vital that all clients are believed,
respected and compassionately understood. I show up as my authentic self in sessions, and
prioritize compassion and honesty with my clients to develop trust.

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I approach therapy with warmth, humor, and authenticity, drawing from Person-Centered,
Non-Directive Play Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Emotionally Focused Therapy
(EFT), and Attachment-based frameworks to help clients feel safe, understood, and
empowered. I firmly believe it is a privilege to walk alongside clients as they navigate challenges
and build more fulfilling relationships with themselves and others.

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I practice effective, culturally sensitive, relational therapy. I specialize in working with issues of
race, identity, and culture. I strive to understand my clients in the context of their relationships
and broader society. No one lives in a vacuum, and often our challenges are connected to stuck
relationship patterns, and dynamics of power and privilege that play out in our relationships, our
workplace, and even within ourselves.

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It is my goal to offer a warm, compassionate, non-judgemental space for all of my clients. This
type of container is necessary in order to feel free to express yourself fully and show up exactly
as you are. I aim to acknowledge and recognize all of your intersecting identities and how they
are at play in various aspects of your life.

In the therapy room, I like to use humor while also keeping it real with my clients to gently guide
you towards your highest growth and healing potential. Together as a team, we can work
collaboratively to untangle the patterns that are no longer serving you.