Alison Kelly, MA, MSEd, PhD
Psychology Postdoctoral Fellow
Alison Kelly, Ph.D., is a psychology postdoctoral fellow who works with children, adolescents, and families across a range of emotional and behavioral concerns. Her clinical experience spans diverse mental health settings, where she has supported young people experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma, ADHD, autism, behavioral difficulties, and challenges with emotional regulation. Alison places a strong emphasis on building trusting therapeutic relationships and creating a space where children and adolescents feel understood, respected, and supported. She draws from evidence-based approaches while tailoring treatment to each client’s developmental level, strengths, interests, and goals. Alison also conducts comprehensive psychoeducational evaluations to help families better understand their child’s cognitive, academic, social-emotional, and behavioral functioning and to provide recommendations for treatment and educational planning.
B.A. in Education and Political Science — Swarthmore College
M.A. in Education — Teachers College, Columbia University
M.Ed. — Fordham University
Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology — Fordham University
Predoctoral Internship — JCCA Pleasantville Campus
Alison has training in individual, group, and family-based therapy and utilizes evidence-based approaches tailored to the needs of children, adolescents, and families, including:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
- Trauma-informed therapeutic approaches
Alison believes that a strong therapeutic relationship provides the foundation for meaningful change. She works collaboratively with children, adolescents, caregivers, and other members of their support systems to promote emotional regulation, coping, communication, and healthy relationships. Alison recognizes that each child is unique and adapts interventions to their developmental level, interests, strengths, and needs. She incorporates engaging and practical activities to help young people feel comfortable in therapy and apply the skills they develop to their everyday lives.
Alison’s research focused on early adolescence as a critical period for social-emotional development and mental health. Her doctoral research examined the relationship between school climate factors and depression among early adolescents, reflecting her interest in how educational environments can influence children’s well-being. Her research interests are also shaped by her early career as an educator and her commitment to understanding how schools can better support the mental health and emotional development of children and adolescents.
Outside of work, Alison enjoys spending time with her family, dabbling in interior design, playing mahjong, and needlepoint. She proudly embraces her love of “old lady activities” and enjoys reading and listening to podcasts to stay up to date on current events.