Alison McCandless , LCSW, CSW

Alison McCandless is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and CSW who brings three years of community mental health experience to her practice. Originally from Southern California, she practiced in Chicago working with low-income individuals facing a wide range of challenges before relocating to Denver, Colorado. Alison is licensed in both Illinois and Colorado and applies a practical, compassionate approach to work with people navigating stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, bipolar disorder, depression, addictions, relationship and family concerns, grief, eating and anger issues, and career or caregiver stress.

Her clinical work blends evidence-informed interventions with a strong emphasis on personal history and meaning making. She draws from Dialectical Behavior Therapy - DBT, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy - CBT, psychodynamic methods, and a strengths-based perspective to build coping skills, support behavioral change, and explore the influences of past experiences. Alison uses a biopsychosocial assessment to gauge functioning and symptom patterns, taking time to gather relevant history so clients can connect current difficulties to earlier life events.

Known for offering nonjudgmental support and hope, Alison centers each person’s story and meets clients where they are. Her practice focuses on collaboration - tailoring strategies to the individual’s needs, goals, and preferences while prioritizing practical tools and deeper understanding.

Therapeutic Approaches and Virtual Care

Alison McCandless employs approaches that emphasize both practical skills and deeper relational patterns. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy - CBT focuses on identifying and shifting unhelpful thoughts and behaviors to reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress. Dialectical Behavior Therapy - DBT teaches concrete skills for emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness, which can be helpful for intense emotions, relationship challenges, and coping under pressure. Attachment-Based Therapy explores how early relationships influence current patterns of relating and can help with abandonment, attachment, and communication difficulties.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic journey. Alison works collaboratively with each person to determine which methods best match their needs, goals, and preferences, adjusting strategies over time as progress and priorities evolve.

Online therapy with Alison is offered through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, providing flexibility for busy schedules, geographic distance, or varying comfort levels with different communication styles. These options make it easier to maintain continuity of care and to access support when life circumstances change, while allowing therapists and clients to tailor the format to what works best for the individual.