whole heart

therapy for your

We utilize EMDR, shame resilience theory, and attachment-focused psychotherapy to help survivors of trauma transform shame-based beliefs about themselves and the world. These beliefs can lead to additional pain emotional and physical pain, harmful relationships, depression, anxiety, disordered eating, and substance abuse. We also specialize in working with professionals and caregivers experiencing burnout, compassion fatigue, or vicarious trauma for adults + adolescents.

Healing and wholeness requires attending to and integrating of all aspects of ourselves, including the parts that may create some ambivalence about recovery. Therapy helps you discover how your eating disorder or substance use served you, protected you, or helped you survive. When people feel safe enough to face whatever it is that they have been numbing, avoiding, or escaping, they are able to form secure relationships with themselves and others and tend to emotions in more self-loving ways. Our expertise in collaboration with multidisciplinary teams allows us to support you at the lowest level of care possible. We offer clients a highly customized, creative treatment approach that meets you where you are.

The ability to have family members see different therapists within the same treatment team allows each individual to have their safe, confidential space in which to do their therapeutic work while simultaneously giving the team a comprehensive perspective of how the family system operates. We are here to help teens be clear about their values as they encounter tough situations and to ensure college readiness. We also help young adults take flight, help empty-nesters create a vision for themselves in this next phase of life, and help adults connect with their own wisdom in order to discern big career moves, including retirement! We also offer parent coaching to help parents communicate limits and expectations in a way that may be more effective for their particular teen. 

The COVID-19 pandemic showed many people how important friendships are to them, and also how complicated they can be where there are differences, hurt feelings, unspoken needs or concerns, or even when the vibe has just been “off.” Friendships can be some of our most vulnerable, as they involve choiceHaving someone to help facilitate difficult conversations and to identify the individual and relational dynamics at play can help us cultivate more ease, joy, and connection in our friendships. This is appropriate for teens and adults. To learn more, listen to an adult friendship therapy session on Esther Perel’s podcast, “Where Should We Begin?” 

healing and growth
through specialized therapy
for teens and adults

individualized, evidence-based therapy specializing in:

We affirm and embrace your race, culture, body size, gender identity, 
sexual orientation, health status, religion, and spiritual practices. 

We seek out knowledge and training to understand your world, ask questions to learn what it’s like to be you in your world, and accept that we have been influenced by society’s racism, prejudice, and privilege; and we do our work to dismantle these structures within us and outside of us.  

Your goals for you become our goals for you.
We choose an approach that is true to your goals and values as well as our ethics and experience. 

We create a space where you feel safe enough to do uncomfortable work; 
because the convergence of safety and discomfort is where change happens. 

We challenge harmful patterns or anything less than self-love.  
 We support you as you courageously practice new skills and ways of being. 

We hold your trust and vulnerability dear. 

We validate all the feelings you’ve experienced and model compassionate curiosity so that you can give these gifts to yourself.

We see the common humanity in all that you do, think, and feel and remind you that you are not alone.  

We shine a light on your wisdom and values so that you learn to let your brilliance be your guide.

wholehearted therapist manifesto

My work is rooted in creating a safe, empowering therapeutic connection that supports clients in facing, feeling, and living their truth.

Allison Marek

Owner and Founder, Truth and Clarity
Therapist
Clinical Supervisor



Owner and Founder, Truth + Clarity
Therapist
Clinical Supervisor



I specialize in working with people who struggle with disordered eating, trauma, anxiety, and professional or caregiving burnout. Many people come to therapy thinking there is something wrong with them, but I tell my clients, “You’re not here because there is something wrong with you. You are here because you think something is wrong with you.” Our imperfections don’t make us unworthy of love, belonging, and joy. They make us human.

My training and professional experience allow me to bring a unique variety of perspectives and skills to my clients. I have studied the clinical applications of shame resilience theory for 15 years and have utilized EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing), an evidence-based trauma treatment, in my practice for 8 years.  As a former program director of an eating disorder treatment center, I can help you or your teen or loved one get to the clinically indicated level of care, build an interdisciplinary team, and navigate eating disorder treatment. As someone who left a leadership position at a large national company to start her own business, I know the personal work it takes to stay true to who you are and the work you want to bring to this world. I have also done consulting work for the Menninger Clinic and other inpatient and residential treatment centers.

“Truth and clarity” comes from my name: Allison meaning “truth” and Clare meaning “clear.” I truly believe that this is the heart of what we do. I am a native Houstonian and graduate of Houston’s High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. “Musical theatre actor” was technically my first career until college, when I found something I loved even more. I find joy in adventure (zip lining, rock climbing, hiking, etc.), travel, horseback riding, home decor, and spending time with my friends and family. My dog Wiley works part-time as a therapy assistant; and clients can sometimes spot my cat Mosey during virtual sessions. To learn more about me visit www.allisonmarek.com

Education:
University of Houston
Master of Social Work
Concentration in Clinical Social Work

University of Cape Town, South Africa
Health Psychology, Social Development

University of Houston
Bachelor of the Arts in Psychology
minor in Human Development and Family Studies

Credentials + Trainings:
Certified Daring Way™ Facilitator (CDWF)
Trained in Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR)
Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council-Approved Clinical Social Work Supervisor

Involvement:
Houston Eating Disorder Specialists

Everyone is an expert of their own life. The answers are held within; and therapy creates the space where those answers can be explored.

Alejandra Ortiz

Therapist, Truth + Clarity

Change can be scary. It’s normal to not be quite sure how ready you are; especially when it comes to facing our fears, being more open with our friends and families, or getting and staying sober. If there’s part of you that perhaps doesn’t want to give up what is holding you back, I’m the therapist for you. We can start with the basics of identifying patterns in your life and getting curious about their impact on you; whether helpful or harmful. Going at your pace is important.

In fact, slowing down is sometimes the hardest work we do. In that more intentional, mindful space, we are able to silence the inner critic, find joy, heal wounds, and improve relationships.

I am from Chile, where there is a lot of heart and culture. I’m a bilingual therapist and always welcome your heritage into the room; because knowing my own heritage has helped shape me to who I am. It allows us to be authentically ourselves.

I’ve spent time on the East Coast and the West Coast, but I’m thankful to be in Houston with it’s never ending restaurant options. At the top of my favorite things list, along with trying new food, are watching a good TV show, hanging with my Bengal cat Lexi, and listening to Reggaeton or Latin music!

Education:
Columbia University
Master of Clinical Social Work

San Diego State University
Bachelor of Child & Family Development

Our office is conveniently located in the West University/Upper Kirby area near Bellaire, Meyerland, River Oaks, and the Texas Medical Center. We will share our specific address with you when scheduling your appointment. Parking is free and easy!

Yes, though your therapist may ask that you come for in-person once every 1 - 2 months depending upon your therapy goals.

Unfortunately, no. If after looking online you are having difficulty finding a licensed therapist in your state that specializes in what you are looking for, feel free to reach out to us. We will pass on names of anyone who may be able to serve you.  

If you have a unique living situation (at college, living in multiple states, prolonged business travel, etc.), contact us and let us know more about your geographical circumstances. We can then assess if we are able to work with you.  

Our full fee rate is $200 for a fifty minute session. 

Even though it is not feasible for us to accept insurance, we have several ways in which we strive to make therapy as accessible as possible, including a sliding fee scale based on income. We can also create short-term payment plans. For more information, please send us a message with specific questions and concerns.

Though we seek to make therapy as accessible as possible, we do not do so by accepting insurance. First, Insurance typically only covers short-term therapy (about six sessions) with a very limited type of therapy (cognitive behavioral therapy) that is not effective for most clients. Additionally, insurance companies work from a medical model, meaning that if you need a therapist but don’t meet criteria for a disorder listed in the DSM 5 TR, insurance will not cover your therapy.   

We do, however, provide superbills that you can submit to your insurance company for out-of-network benefits. If your insurance company does not have an in-network therapist that specializes in the areas of expertise you are looking for (ex. It can be difficult to find an in-network eating disorder therapist who also specializes in trauma), then you can talk to your insurance company about obtaining a single case agreement in order to be able to use your in-network benefits to pay for therapy.

Have more questions? Contact us!

frequently asked questions

Why are you seeking therapy at this time?

Preferred Setting (in-person, virtual)

Day/Time Availability +

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Send us a message and we will do our best to return your email within one business day. If this is a life-threatening mental health emergency, please dial 988.
If you are interested in joining the truth + clarity team, clinical supervision, consulting, or speaking, please contact Allison via www.allisonmarek.com.

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