Who the Heck is Allison
Please note: views stated in this blog, now and in the future, are my own thoughts and opinions as human being and Working professional. They are not a direct reflection of my career as a licensed therapist or my place of business.
Like any therapist, I am a human-being first and foremost. I have a past, present, and future. Being a therapist, is the career I have chosen. But, this career does not define who I am as a human. This career is about the relationship between me and my clients, which is my favorite part of the job. Clients have to feel like I am a relatable and understand their struggles, and sometimes I am not that fit for everyone whom comes into my office.
It is important to know my unique clinical and personal interests. I thought the best way to do this was find an array of questions, which can bridge the gap of me as an individual and therapist. Please continue to read on if you would like to learn more about me, Allison, the unique individual.
Where did you grow-up?
I was born and raised in South Bend, IN. It is most famous for a university located there, you might know it, Notre Dame University. Also, its current mayor is trying to run for president on the democratic ticket, but I digress.
To me, South Bend, was a small town. I grew up in a middle-class family with my mom, dad, and my handicap older sister. They instilled in me values I still carry today (e.g. independence, knowledge, loyalty and love), but I was a dreamer. I knew I was meant for more than living in South Bend forever. It was such a privilege for me to be allowed to have these dreams and the ability to achieve them.
What is my personality type?
Depending on your own views on how you see the world, here are varies different ways to understand a person’s personality or traits. Ultimately, I should not be reduced to only being these definitions as a human, yet I think they all shed light on how I exist in the world.
Enneagram Type 1- The Reformer
Harry Potter (Hogwarts House): Ravenclaw
What led you to become an CFT?
I always knew I wanted to be part of a people helping profession, yet I was unsure what that was going to look like career wise upon finishing my undergraduate degrees. After graduating, I indulged myself in life experiences and exploring my different options. By doing this, I learned I wanted to be a therapist, and how I look at problems in a group or relational context instead of just working with an individual. Also, I was highly interested in romantic partnerships, which landed me to be drawn to becoming a couple and family therapist.
What is my favorite part about living in Chicago?
I dreamed of living in Chicago since I was a little girl. It was my closest biggest city while growing up. I loved coming in on the South Shore train to go to museums, shopping on the Magnificent Mile, or head to a sporting even (mainly Cubs games).
Now that I have lived here for almost 7 years, I cannot imagine living anywhere else. The city is soo big and every neighborhood has something new to explore. You can always find something to do. May it be taking in a show, going to a park, shopping, or restaurants.
My biggest joy is getting to work and give back to the Andersonville neighborhood. It is an absolute honor and privilege to work in the community I live in. It gives me a sense of connection and home, I felt growing up in a smaller community in Indiana.
What do you like to do for fun and/or relaxation outside of work?
When I am not working, I enjoy spending time with my partner, friends, family, and two cats. I would be nothing without these different relationships in my life. I feel a rush of joy and happiness when I get to spend time with those that mean so much to me. With pets, their unconditional love and devotion is unparalleled to any human love. My partner and I love our fur children. We hope to get a dog in the near future.
I love being active and outside soaking up the sunshine by going to a park, being by Lake Michigan, or just taking a simple walk around my neighborhood. Being born and raised in the mid-west, there is half of the year I cannot be outside due to cold and snow (I am not a fan of snow), during these times, I enjoy traveling to new places, reading, writing, watching TV and movies, knitting, and cooking.
What do you enjoy most about being a therapist?
I enjoy being someone who will give you their undivided attention, face-to-face, for 45-50 minutes of your day. Where do we get that type of attention anymore? The truth is we don’t! Just getting to bear witness to clients wanting to be intentional and help themselves is an immense privilege.
I am always at a loss for words when it comes to clients being willing to work with me, let alone trust me with their problems. I never know how to thank you for allowing me to help you because ultimately you do not have to trust me to facilitate change, but the most transformative change comes from being courageous to show up and risk the possibility of not being seen. Allowing me to hear their truths and help them better themselves as they struggle is the ultimate gift of this profession.
On a more selfish note, I love being a therapist because of my value of being a forever learner. Not only do I seek my own therapy with my therapist to work on things I struggle with, but I also get to read books, journal articles, and attend trainings to continue learning and growing as therapist AND as a human-being.
DISCLAIMER: This blog is a blog written and edited by Allison Bozovsky, LMFT. As the owner of this blog, this is a tool to share my own thoughts, feelings, and expertise on social sciences for informational purposes only. The information is no reflection of my current employer. It is not a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or therapeutic services.