Allison Bradford Chow, PhD

Originally from North Carolina, Ali moved to Seattle in 2007 to pursue a master’s degree in counseling psychology at The Seattle School of Theology and Psychology. Not long after arriving, she attended a potluck dinner where she met her future husband due to his love of pie.

After graduating, Ali began working at a psychiatric clinic specializing in the treatment of eating disorders. It was there that she discovered a deep interest in supporting adolescents and young adults. Drawn to variety in her work, Ali left the clinic to open a small private practice. Alongside her practice, she taught dance and facilitated cancer support groups at the former Gilda’s Club.

Recognizing the need for professional support in an often-isolating profession, Ali sought out The Center for Object Relations (COR), where she found not only a strong professional community and a theoretical frame that made sense to her. Her involvement with COR led her to begin her own psychoanalytic psychotherapy. While taking an infant observation course, Ali became pregnant with her first child, and she continues to believe that infant observation training was the most meaningful training for personal and professional life. The experience cemented her belief in the profound connections between early relational experiences and later development.

Twelve years into her career and now a mother of two, Ali returned to school to pursue a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision at Antioch University Seattle. During her doctoral training, she developed an appreciation for counseling research, explored teaching and leadership practices, and even took up open water swimming.

Today, Ali is Co-President of The Center for Object Relations, reviews manuscripts for the Wisconsin Counseling Journal, maintains a private practice, teaches, and is an approved clinical supervisor.