“And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom. "Anais nin”

Nourishment for your inbox!

Authentic encounter + real change

About Ally

Hello! I'm Ally Guida Smith, licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California. #48932.

I am radically hopeful when it comes to therapy and its benefits. With 21 years of experience as a humanistic, strengths-based psychotherapist, my approach is strongly rooted in

-attachment theory,

-somatics

-Jungian theory and practice

-energy medicine

-ayurvedic psychology,

-expressive arts, and

-neurobiological perspectives of healing stress and trauma.

I utilize effective, solution-focused cognitive and behavioral tools within a framework guided by CLEAR, MEASURABLE + ACHIEVABLE GOALS. I am compassionate yet direct. I can hold the messy and the magical with you.

Together, we can activate inner and outer resources, help you grow new coping skills, invigorate out-of-practice ones and build new habits to get you what you need. As a mother, veteran, humanitarian, and artist who has healed from traumatic stress and an eating disorder, my own journey has gifted me the expertise and experiences to help clients achieve their goals in therapy.

I believe in your ability to navigate your inner and outer worlds when you feel supported in a non-judgmental, compassionate and steady way. My hope is that we cultivate a trusting partnership to support your healing process.

No B.S. therapy

You’ve tried straight up therapy and it was sort of helpful. But you want REAL change for your time, money, and effort. My clients come to me seeking a therapist who is not a blank slate, but HONEST-TO-GOODNESS relatable, direct, kind, and good at therapy (YES, I am good at it! And you should know so you know what value you are getting- you'll be the judge :)).

THEY DON'T JUST WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE PAST, THEY WANT TO MOVE PAST IT.

They want to transform, embody and grow into their harder parts, their uncomfortable aspects and replace what’s no longer working for them.My training draws for over two decades of theory + practice in psychological tools, as well as energy tools. Some clients want to integrate energy medicine techniques, and I’m here for that, too.

Some clients want to focus on movement, expressive arts or having me listen while they talk. I can do that, too. I WON'T LET YOU STAY STUCK FOR TOO LONG or vent for too long as I am here to help you grow. I expect you to practice what we work on between sessions and value our sacred container. We are in this together and it can be hard but also joyful.I typically attract clients who are women who want help with relationship challenges, especially anxiety with dating.

I help a lot of millenial and Gen Z women and men who are in tech, creative fields and making corporate-to-creative career changes (+vice versa). I often attract clients who want to work on romantic relationships, body image challenges, life transitions (dating to marriage, changing careers) and identity themes. I specialize in Eating DIsorders and help clients get into higher level treatment or who are in recovery ‘stepping down’, and even those who aren’t sure yet if this is an issue but think it may be.

I have a lot of clients who want to break free of family conditioning, FIND THEIR VOICES AND PLACES IN THE WORLD and in their families. I love helping clients find SPIRITUAL paths and pathways to feeling whole (because, yes you are already, whole).

Clients who are in touch or want to be in touch with energetic ways of being beyond the physical often seek my help, including those incorporating PSYCHEDELIC medicines into their healing. I have successfully worked with: sexual and developmental traumas, anxiety and depression symptoms, body image and eating disorder issues, addictions rooted in trauma, trauma (including complex trauma), Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, ADHD, issues that affect multi-racial clients + cross-cultural families, issues specific to military service members and their spouses and children, sexuality development, life transitions , psychosomatic symptoms (psychological symptoms connected to physical symptoms), creativity themes, self-esteem issues, and spiritual and religious inquiries affecting relationships.

Wellness Coaching

As a certified coach I will help you identify and achieve your wellness goals, whether it's losing weight, improving sleep, or reducing stress. Let us guide you on your journey to optimal health!

Wellness Retreats

Get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and focus on your well-being. Our retreats offer a variety of activities, from yoga and meditation to hiking and healthy cooking classes.

RELATIONSHIPS, WOMEN'S HEALTH, MOOD, EATING DISORDERS

EATING DISODERS + NOURISHMENT IMBALACES

ANXIETY + WOMEN'S HEALTH RELATED TO CYCLES/MOOD

Asking for help is the first step. You don't have to take the rest alone.

ANXIETY + WOMEN'S HEALTH RELATED TO CYCLES/MOOD

Anxiety is an energy to be managed and navigated like waves on the sea.

TRAUMA- CHRONIC, SPECIFIC, CHILDHOOD

Trauma is not uncommon. We use our existing strengths and build new resiliences that can make us happier, healthier and more at peace.

RELATIONSHIPS TO SELF + OTHERS

TRAUMA- CHRONIC, SPECIFIC, CHILDHOOD

If you are going through changes or challenges in your romantic relationships, family relationships, work relationships and friendships, therapy can be a supportive process to help you process, gain communication skills and explore boundary-making in these relationships so you can feel more balanced and well-being.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does virtual therapy work as well as in-person therapy?

For most people it works better! And for a few, they prefer in-person. Technology enables us to meet across space more easily, and reduce stress of commuting. If you're in California but don't live close to my office, virtual therapy is a godsend. We will still connect deeply through the video screen and also it can be easier to share screen resources, talk through visuals, share a whiteboard to make art together and more.

What modalities do you use? What are your qualifications?

I received a graduate diploma in Dance Therapy from University of Surrey Roehampton in London in 2001. So nearly 22 years ago my journey started. Then I went through somatics and expressive arts therapy training receiving my Master's Degree at C.I.I.S in San Francisco in 2005. After 3 years of internship and exams I got my license in 2009 when I had a newborn! I have done trainings in Motivational Interviewing, DBT, CBT, Somatics with Peter Levine, Trauma with Bessel Van der Kolk, Expressive arts with Natalie Rogers (daughter of Carl Rogers, a humanistic psych. pioneer), reiki energy healing, yoga teacher certification, psychedelic integration training, EFT (tapping) training and more. Each licensing period I must do 36 continuing ed. hours and am consistently adding more modalities and tools to my repertoire. I have worked in prisons, schools , hospitals, for the military, as a supervisor and the past 9 years in private practice.

What do you do outside of being a therapist?

I am a mama to young teenagers and have an adorable husky (who rescued me!) I love to dance, play and sing, swim in the sea, write books, design stuff, bak, practice yoga and TRAVEL TRAVEL TRAVEL. With 50+ countries under my belt I am excited to explore more!

FeeDBACK from Clients

"When women reassert their relationship with the wildish nature, they are gifted with a permanent and internal watcher, a knower, a visionary, an oracle, an inspiratrice, an intuitive, a maker, a creator, an inventor, & a listener who guide, suggest, & urge vibrant life in the inner & outer worlds.

YOUTUBE CHANNEL

WATCH HERE

Your Therapist for Relationships, Self-Love, Narcissistic Abuse

Your Therapist for Relationships, Self-Love, Narcissistic Abuse

“And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom. "Anais nin”

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Authentic encounter + real change

About Ally