Ala Therapy Collective

Ala Aviary

Some birds need open sky.
Some need quieter branches.

Our Mission

Therapy for an expansive life.

Safe enough to let your guard down.

Ala exists to create therapeutic spaces where people feel safe enough to let their guard down.

We believe therapy works best when people do not have to shrink themselves to fit into professionalism, perfection, or performance.

We are progressive, affirming, deeply human clinicians with personalities, perspectives, humor, flaws, lived experiences, and genuine care for the people sitting across from us.

We want people to feel a sigh of relief.

Like for a moment, they no longer have to carry everything alone.

The Ala Bird

The Resplendent Quetzal

The Quetzal belongs to Ala itself.

Unlike many brightly colored birds, both male and female quetzals carry vibrant color. That mattered to us.

Freedom. Beauty without conformity. A collective of wings, each with its own color, shape, weird little call, and reason for being here.

The Flock

Different birds.Different branches.

Hover any card to learn how the bird picked the clinician.

Secretary Bird

Shylah

Shylah Ridgway, LCSW, LICSW

Protective. Direct. Weird call. Stomps snakes. Not here for fake therapy energy.

Secretary birds look like dinosaurs with eyelashes and a crown. They stomp the dog shit out of venomous snakes. That felt correct.

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Sankofa Bird

Demetria

Demetria Bonds, LMSW

Warm. Reflective. Steady in a way that makes people unclench a little.

Sankofa means returning to what matters and carrying its wisdom forward. Demetria brings that same gentle depth into her work.

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Green Heron

Taylor

Taylor Hendricks, LMSW

Calm. Observant. Independent. Quietly adaptable.

Green Herons follow their own path and prefer quiet, calm environments. Taylor connected with that unique-focus, neurodivergent-affirming energy.

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Great Blue Heron

Madison

Madison Johnson, LCSW

Grounded. Thoughtful. Calm without feeling clinical or distant.

A blue heron became Madison's neighbor at the start of her Ala chapter. The symbolism stuck: grace, steadiness, resilience, and stillness in the mess.

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Hummingbird

Kenzie

Kenzie Langford, LCSW, LICSW

Gentle movement. Soft persistence. Space to be heard without having to earn it.

Kenzie's work centers safety, self expression, and feeling honored, respected, and heard, especially for teens and young adults finding their own way.

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Phoenix

Michi

Michi Medley, LMSW, A-CAS

Fiery. Nurturing. Rebuilt more than once and still not done rising.

Michi chose the phoenix because she has risen from the ashes more than once and somehow keeps coming back more fiery each time.

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Blue-Crowned Motmot

Katana

Katana Jones, LMSW

Quietly observant. Creative. Peaceful without being passive.

Katana chose the motmot for its resilience, vitality, creativity, renewal, and calm patience in the middle of chaos.

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Torogoz

Dana

Dana Kausek, LCSW

Steady presence energy. No unnecessary performance required.

Some birds arrive with deep symbolism. Others arrive with lore.

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Hawk

Jessie

Jessie Benjamen, Client Care Coordinator

Consistent. Perceptive. The one noticing the thing before it becomes a problem.

Jessie's hawk energy is practical: focused, observant, and steady behind the scenes so people do not feel brushed off when they reach out.

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Snowy Owl

Rosie

Clinician

Occasional. Watchful. Here at specific times, not all the time.

Rosie chose the owl because she liked it. Sometimes that is reason enough. Some birds only appear at certain hours.

Peacock

Charles

MSW Egg

Future feather energy. Still becoming. Already dramatic enough for the bird assignment.

"I'm a peacock, you gotta let me fly!" That was apparently the whole selection process, and honestly, fair.

About the Practicum
Best Nest

Maternal Mental Health

A specialty within Ala

Some seasons require softer places to land.

Support for pregnancy, postpartum, identity shifts, and the people learning to hold both themselves and someone new.

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This or That

Get to know the flock.

We asked our clinicians to pick a side.

Morning bird or night owl
Slow morning and coffeeorWide awake at midnight

Most of us are pretending to be morning people. A few of us actually mean it.

In a session, you lean
Sit with the feelingorMake a plan and move

Either way, you set the pace. We just meet you there.

Comfort recharge
Quiet and a good bookorPeople and a loud kitchen

Introvert energy runs deep here. So does a chaotic family dinner.

Weekend of choice
Trail and fresh airorCouch and a long film

We contain multitudes. Some of those multitudes own hiking boots.

Therapy snack philosophy
Always have tea readyorSnacks are a personality

There is no wrong answer. There is only the snack drawer.

How we say hello
Warm and easyorStraight to the real stuff

Different birds, different branches. Find the one that fits.

Ready When You Are

Find your branch.

Pick a bird. Send a note. Take the first step.

Schedule a Consultation