Today we’d like to introduce you to Delaney Allison.
Hi Delaney, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My journey began nearly a decade ago when I became a public school elementary teacher. I fell in love with creating a safe environment for my students and their families to thrive and grow, but each year it became clearer to me how significantly children’s mental health impacted not only each student’s ability to learn and function while at school, but also how mental health shaped each child’s lens through which they viewed themselves and the world.
In essence, my time spent in the public school classroom solidified my passion for supporting healing and growth for children and families.This led me to return to the University of North Texas for a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling. From the moment I walked into the classroom for my “Introduction to Play Therapy” course in graduate school, I knew that play therapy would become an important part of my life’s work. Now, I specialize in supporting caregivers and their families as a Licensed Professional Counselor, National Certified Counselor, and as a Registered Play Therapist with the Association of Play Therapy.
Another important piece of my story is tied to the inequities and injustices I experienced and witnessed throughout my long-standing career as both an educator and a counselor. As a result, Sun Leaf Counseling was founded out of a need to create an equitable and safe space where people of color and marginalized communities could find refuge and connect with their authentic selves.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Navigating social justice work and building a business from the ground up within systems marked by countless limitations and a lack of support for BIPOC and queer communities often left me on the edge of compassion and empathy fatigue from the weight of grief alone.
Recently, I read a blog post titled “Refusing to Break: Empathy, Boundaries, and the Fight for Liberation” written by Alyssa Cedillo at The Tree of Life Counseling Center. It so accurately described the unlearning of empathy without boundaries – a pattern that left me feeling depleted early in my career, which ultimately served no one.
The road has not been easy or smooth, but I’ve learned to honor my humanness and recognize the wisdom in seeking support. Today, I am intentionality focusing my energy in ways that sustain and fuel collective efforts toward inclusivity, liberation, and healing. I view the process as a school of unlearning and a reconnection to community care. As Dr. Jennifer Mullan asks in Decolonizing Therapy – “What would it look like to be able to trust the care, interventions, treatments, and support received would not just care for the individual, but would also be care-filled for the larger community and the Earth?” (Mullan, J. (2023). Decolonizing Therapy: Oppression, Historical Trauma & Politicizing Your Practice. W. W. Norton & Company).
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
What sets me apart is a genuine desire to listen and learn from others’ unique experiences as a way to build and strengthen connections within the community. I believe there’s deep wisdom in people sharing their stories—wisdom that doesn’t need to be confined to the therapy room. Partnering with community organizations and fellow women of color entrepreneurs has allowed me to both learn from those I serve and contribute in ways outside the traditional therapy spaces.
I serve on the board of Black Boys Meditate, a non-profit and Aura House community initiative created by Michael and Jordan Thompson that promotes mindfulness to underserved communities. I also work part time at Paws for Reflection Ranch, a non-profit that partners with animals to heal the mind, body, and spirit. Through these roles, I’ve built some incredible friendships and rediscovered my passion for teaming up with dedicated change-makers—listening to what a community needs and working together to meet those needs.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
What I like least about our city is the fast paced development that continuously impacts surrounding nature and wildlife, which can also make it difficult to find spaces that create peace and calm away from the hustle and bustle. On the flip side, what I like most about our city is the number of locally owned businesses that bring personal and ancestral stories to their services and products. Getting to know the local business owners creates connections that make the city feel like home.
Pricing:
- Free 15-20 minute phone consultation.
- Individual therapy sessions: $130-150
- Telehealth: $130-150
- Group therapy sessions: $60-80
- Sliding scale option is available.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sunleafcounseling.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunleafcounseling/
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/delaneyallisonslc/
Image Credits
John Scott Allison
