Who I am
Introduction
Hi, I'm Dr. Ali Cunningham Abbott! I am a doctoral level, licensed mental health counselor (LMHC) and qualified supervisor in the state of Florida. These certifications allow me to provide and oversee treatment for people seeking to improve aspects of their psychological and emotional health. This short introduction will give you an idea of who I am based on key areas of my professional experience and integrated treatment approach. My hope is that after reading this you will get a good sense of me and whether you're interested in seeking my services.
Experience
These are some highlights from 15 years of counseling and consultation services I've provided:
Publication of the book Counseling Adults with Autism: A Comprehensive Toolkit.
Supportive counseling and consultation for parents and family members of individuals with social and behavioral diagnoses including autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and developmental disabilities.
Individual, group and family counseling for individuals with substance use and eating disorders.
Individual and group counseling for children, teens and adults with ASD to enhance social relationship and behavioral skills. *Click link above for research published on adult treatment outcomes.
Certification, UCLA Program for Education and Enrichment of Relationship Skills (PEERS) and experience implementing teen and young adult treatment protocols.
Level 1 & 2 training in Gottman Method Couples Therapy
"Mommy & Me", natural environment intervention treatment groups for 18-36 month old children with ASD and their parents.
Outreach and screening to under-represented and low-income families seeking diagnosis for social and behavioral challenges.
Professional trainings and workshop facilitation to over 3,000 family members, medical professionals, teachers and counselors.
Please email me to request my curriculum vitae (CV) for comprehensive details on my education, employment, publication and presentation experiences.
Treatment approach
My approach to treatment integrates cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), positive psychology (PP) and family systems to individualize care for every client. Let me briefly describe how these approaches help people with social and behavioral challenges:
CBT: One of the primary tenets of cognitive behavior therapy is that thoughts and behaviors dictate a person's mental health. Therefore, social and behavioral issues can be improved by recognizing, accepting and shifting one's thoughts and actions. In my work, I help guide clients to 1) an understanding of how thoughts and actions influence their quality of life and 2) to create a plan for making improvements in the areas they are ready and committed to changing. I implement cutting edge strategies within CBT, such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and other techniques to help clients meet their goals. Please click here if you're interested in learning more about CBT & ACT.
PP: Positive psychology focuses on helping people achieve health by building on individual strengths and personal characteristics a person already embodies. Therefore, social and behavioral issues that exist can improve by 1) having positive emotional experiences, 2) becoming engaged in learning new skills and 3) developing a sense of meaning. In my work, I help clients explore their values, personal characteristics and experiences and then use this strengths-based perspective to improve their mental health. Please click here if you're interested in learning more about PP.
Family systems: Social and behavioral issues impact more than just the individual who is experiencing them. Oftentimes family members, partners, friends, colleagues and others aren't sure how to help when these issues arise in their environment. Therefore, social and behavioral issues become a challenge for everyone involved including parents, siblings, and others in the family but also teachers, therapists, supervisors, co-workers and others in school or the workplace. In my practice, I work with everyone involved in these environments to help make improvements.
AliCunninghamAbbottPhDCVJan2025.pdf