Alison Cross
Founder and Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor
Alison Cross, a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor in NC and a LPC in Georgia, is a working Mom who specializes in helping those with eating disorders and body image issues. Alison is also a Certified Eating Disorder Specialist and loves supervising new and trained clinicians.
While living in Georgia for 23 years Ali worked at all levels of mental healthcare with a focus on clients that have a troubled relationship with food and body. Through teaching clients positive recovery skills, she noticed similar negative body talk and constant dieting outside of work. Is it a common and appropriate lifestyle choice for people to deprive and hate their bodies? Dieting and a negative body image are gateway behaviors to developing obsessions that could lead to having an eating disorder. In the interest of prevention and awareness, the Body, Beauty, and Bravery Project was born. Today, many people have had the opportunity to listen to Alison speak in a workshop, seminar, retreat, or day camp to learn how to feel at home in their bodies. Alison, her husband and 4 daughters moved to Asheville, NC in 2018 where she started her outpatient practice in both Hendersonville and Asheville. Since then she’s become a Level 1 Internal Family Systems therapist, completed the Level 2 training in the Embodied Recovery Model for eating disorders, and is a Certified Safe and Sound Protocol provider. She loves meeting with adult clients and working with all the things that tend to go along with eating disorders, like trauma, addiction, depression, anxiety, and PTSD.
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Supervising, consulting, and mentoring new clinicians is also a strong passion. Just before the pandemic Alison started a local non-profit chapter of the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals, where education and networking opportunities are provided to local healthcare professionals. In her spare time she loves to hang out with her family, hike, play piano, speak French, and explore the art of wood working.
Kristen Olberz
Intern
While being human carries with it difficulties and pain, there exists joy and goodness, healing and wisdom that patiently waits for each of us. I love sitting with folks, supporting each person on their highly unique journey of self-discovery. My intention is to hold a safe, grounded space where curiosity, gentleness, and courage might arise with more ease. Where learning how to know oneself authentically becomes an adventure of the soul.
Though I am currently in my counseling practicum, I have over 30 years' experience as a certified hypnotherapist and registered nurse working in both birthing and mental health, including birth trauma release, phobias, and fertility challenges. I am deeply interested in understanding how our history shapes us and the ways we show up in the world, as well as the incredible ability of our nervous systems and minds to change and grow. I love nurturing folks' spiritual quests and find Nature a refuge and wise teacher.
Interested in Supervision?
Alison offers supervision for professionals seeking licensure in both GA and NC. She is also an Approved Supervisor for anyone seeking their certification as an eating disorder specialist through iaedp. With supervision you can expect to learn more about Internal Family Systems and how to use this model with eating disorders. Alison also teaches the Embodied Recovery (trademark) model for eating disorders and integrates their take on Polyvagal Theory. Supervisees will also learn how Safe and Sound Protocol can be used to help everyone in their journey. Drawing on her background of top down models and showing how they connect with these bottom up approaches, supervisees will have a good foundation for working with all kinds of presenting issues that clients bring. Business development and support is also a part of the process.