Allison Scarinzi, LCSW-C
Therapist & Owner of Lotus Psychotherapy and The Refuge
Brainspotting • Trauma & PTSD • Addiction & Recovery • First Responders
I’m a heart-centered therapist and clinical leader with a strong passion for destigmatizing mental health and creating care that sees the whole person. My approach is grounded, collaborative, and deeply individualized, with particular experience supporting clients navigating trauma, addiction, acute stress, and the unique pressures faced by first responders.
With roots in crisis intervention and training in Brainspotting, EMDR, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and somatic work, I help clients understand how difficult experiences may continue to affect the mind and body while creating space for meaningful healing and change.
You Might Be a Good Fit If...
You’re processing trauma or experiences that still feel present
You’re navigating addiction, substance use, or recovery
You’re a first responder carrying the impact of high-stress or traumatic experiences
Acute stress has left you feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, or constantly on alert
Traditional talk therapy hasn’t felt like enough
You’re interested in Brainspotting, EMDR, or body-based approaches to healing
You want therapy that considers the whole person rather than focusing only on symptoms
You’re looking for a therapist who can balance compassion with direct, meaningful work
Specialties
My therapeutic approach may incorporate:
Brainspotting
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) (certified)
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
Somatic Therapy
Trauma-Informed Care
Addiction & Recovery Support
The specific approach we use will depend on your individual needs, experiences, and goals.
You don’t need to arrive at therapy knowing exactly what needs to change or how to get there. My role is to meet you where you are, help you better understand what you’re carrying, and create a path forward that feels meaningful and manageable.
I draw from Brainspotting, EMDR, Internal Family Systems, and somatic approaches to help clients work with experiences that may be held both emotionally and physically. Depending on your needs, our work may involve processing trauma, understanding patterns, strengthening coping skills, or reconnecting with parts of yourself that have been pushed aside during periods of stress or survival.
My goal is to create a grounded space where you can do meaningful work without being reduced to a diagnosis or a set of symptoms. Healing may not always be linear, but it can create greater connection, clarity, and choice in how you move through your life.
How I Can Help
Brainspotting & Trauma
Trauma doesn’t always live neatly in words. Difficult experiences can continue to affect how you feel, respond, connect with others, and experience your own body long after the immediate event has passed.
I use Brainspotting and other trauma-focused approaches to help clients access and process experiences that may feel difficult to reach through traditional talk therapy alone. Our work is paced around your needs, with the goal of helping you feel more grounded, connected, and able to move forward.
First Responders & Acute Stress
Working in high-pressure environments can mean repeatedly being exposed to situations most people never experience. Over time, those experiences can affect sleep, relationships, emotions, concentration, and your ability to fully step out of “response mode.”
My background in crisis intervention has shaped a particular passion for working with first responders and individuals navigating acute stress. Therapy can provide a confidential space to process what you’ve experienced without requiring you to minimize it, explain it away, or carry it alone.
Addiction & Recovery
Addiction and recovery can affect every part of life—from relationships and identity to the way you cope with stress and difficult emotions.
I work with clients to understand the patterns underneath substance use while building skills, support, and greater connection to themselves. Recovery isn’t simply about removing a behavior; it can also be about creating a life that feels more sustainable, meaningful, and aligned with who you want to be.
Whole-Person Healing
Emotional experiences often show up in both the mind and body. Rather than focusing on symptoms in isolation, I take a whole-person approach that considers your experiences, relationships, nervous system, strengths, and the environment around you.
Together, we can explore what is happening beneath the surface and determine which therapeutic approaches best support where you are now.