Meet Ali

Learn more about Ali at www.alexandra-lam.com.

Hi, I’m Ali. I love stories, as I think most humans do. I studied literature in college and graduate school because I couldn’t get enough stories. Eventually, I realized it wasn’t the stories themselves that I loved so much, it was the people they belonged to. While I spent years studying other people’s stories, it took longer for me to look in the mirror at my own. When I finally landed in therapy myself, I uncovered a whole new understanding of how my story had shaped my identity, behaviors, beliefs, hurts, and longings. I came to believe deeply in the transformational work of therapy, which led me to earn a master’s in Counseling Psychology from The University of San Francisco. After spending a year training in integrative approaches to therapy at California Pacific Medical Center, I joined the private practice of Ritenour Counseling to devote more focus and care to my clients. 

I work with a variety of issues including depression, anxiety, relationships, and life transitions, with a special interest in working with those who have a history of complex trauma.

My approach to therapy is first and foremost relational. I place high importance on providing trauma-informed care, to create a space where you can feel safe and authentic.

In a session, you can expect me to do a lot of listening, ask direct questions, celebrate your growth, laugh with you, hold your story with honor, and meet you with compassion. I ground my approach in Psychodynamic, Narrative, Family Systems, and Attachment theories, but I also enjoy drawing tools from Internal Family Systems, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). I also use psychoeducation when appropriate, because I believe in equipping everyone with a deeper understanding of how our brains, bodies, emotions, and nervous systems operate.

This is a brave journey you’re setting out on, and I would be honored to walk alongside you.