Seleni Spotlight: Alison Baker, LMSW
February 2020 - Alison C. Baker, LMSW, is an experienced therapist who works with individuals, couples, and families seeking support around a range of issues including life transitions, mental health challenges such as depression and anxiety, co-parenting, trauma, and grief and loss.
Tell us a bit about yourself.
As the oldest of three, I grew up trying to better understand family dynamics and that curiosity has never ceased. My interest in families has been a constant thread in my life, and I feel fortunate to be able to work with individuals, couples and families. I grew up in Philadelphia but have lived in New York City for most of my adult life, and while I enjoy being in nature and love the ocean, I am definitely a city person.
What motivates you to work in this field?
I am excited about working in this field and feel like I am never at a loss for opportunities to grow and learn, personally and professionally there is always a new way to challenge oneself. I think of the driving forces is my desire to connect with people, and to help and support others in their longings to connect, to feel seen and heard, and to feel a sense of agency in one’s life. I have been fortunate enough to have incredible mentors throughout my career who have inspired me, challenged me, and helped me develop my own voice and style of practice as a clinician. One of my mentors (Gillian Walker) instilled the value of collaboration in one’s work (and life), and demonstrated a deep sense of compassion that I have tried to internalize in my own life.
What excites you most about being part of the Seleni family?
I am thrilled to be a part of the Seleni family. There is such a diverse group of clinicians with a true spirit of inclusivity and collaboration. I am inspired by the dedication, wisdom and compassion the clinicians and staff bring to the work. Seleni is true to their mission, and being part of the Seleni Family encourages me to bring the best of myself to my work. There can be such feelings of isolation, invisibility and stigma with mental health, and certainly maternal mental health, and being able to challenge that feels critical. We are not wired to do this work alone, yet so often that is the message we get, but at Seleni there is a shared sense of togetherness that I appreciate and value.
What is your favorite podcast, movie, book, or magazine, related to the field of mental health?
Two of my favorite movies are “The Silver Lining Playbook” and “Good Will Hunting”. I like to listen to Esther Perel’s podcast, “Where Should We Begin”, and find that she makes me think, and think hard, and I really appreciate the expansiveness of her perspective which is so dynamic. I have also been listening to the podcast “Foreplay” with Laurie Watson and George Faller. Listening to Laurie and George is great, and I find their work has made me more intentional about bringing sexual health into my practice. I have been profoundly impacted and inspired by George Faller’s work, and when I get a chance to participate in one of his trainings or read his work I jump at it.
Working in mental health can be emotionally tiring. How do you practice self care?
Time with family and friends is critical to my wellbeing, and being able to laugh (and cry and everything in between) restores my energy. My inner circle of friends and family are lifelines, and those relationships I do not take for granted. In addition to my relationships, I also mediate, which took me a long time to come to, and I still have my challenges, but the more consistent I am the better my practice. Walking is another part of my self care practice, I love to walk and find that once I get going my thoughts and perspective begin to shift, and there is always something new to see or notice.
What’s a quote that you carry with you to uplift yourself?
I love Maya Angelou, and one of my favorite quotes of hers is, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Another quote a mentor shared recently is from Viktor Frankl, “Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.”
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For more information about Alison Baker, LMSW, learn more here.
