Alison Spens
My journey to become a therapist was definitely not a direct path. As in life, there were many starts, stops, twists and turns, but I know this is exactly where I should be and all my lived experiences leading up to this point will guide and inform me in my work with my clients.
From an early age I felt a deep empathy and compassion for people and the life challenges they face, and I was inspired by the human capacity for growth, change, and resilience. As a young child growing up in inner southeast Portland, I watched sadly as some of the neighborhood children played out the dysfunctional and sometimes abusive family systems they lived in and wondered how I could help. As a middle schooler I wept while reading the book Let the Circle be Unbroken and passionately vowed to always speak up for those who face adversity and discrimination despite the possible consequences to me or my life. As a teenager and college student I was drawn to coaching youth soccer and supporting the development and growth of children through sport and movement. You would think that I would have realized in my early twenties that therapy was my calling in life, but it took me another 30+ years to get here!
After obtaining a masters in Exercise Science, starting a doctorate program and quitting when I realized I didn’t want to be in school for another 4 years, I started a career in corporate so I could pay off my school loans and support myself. I found enjoyment in the constant change and the opportunity to learn something new each day. I quickly moved into management positions and approached my role as a servant leader where I focused on my team member’s personal growth and development – seeing their gifts when they were not yet able to see them and challenging them to realize their potential. And although I reveled in building relationships and seeing the personal and professional growth of my team members, I always knew the corporate career was not my final chapter.
It was the culmination of a number of things that led me to become a therapist. It started with the nagging feeling that I was not fulfilling my life purpose and that I needed to serve people in a different way. It was the guidance of a very astute career counselor who helped me reflect on my interests, talents, passions, and life priorities. It was the realization that without the help of our amazing couples counselor, my wife and I would have likely divorced just a few years after the birth of our beautiful son (we are pushing +27 years now – but who’s counting!). I have such deep appreciation for our counselor, she literally altered the path of our lives for the better. It was so many things that came together and led me to this incredible profession where I am humbled and honored to hear people’s stories, to walk alongside them, to challenge them when necessary, and to support them in navigating life’s challenges.
As I look back though, finding my way to becoming a marriage and family therapist was actually the easy part. The hard part has been not giving in to all of the negative talk, self doubt and fears that tell me, “You’re too old! Just stay in your corporate job where it is secure and you know what you are doing! Why do you think you can help others when you don’t have your own stuff figured out?” Imposter syndrome comes up regularly, it is real. But I’m committed to not letting it take me off my path – no matter how hard it tries!