Today we’d like to introduce you to Allison Mark.
Allison, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I am originally from New York where I lived most of my life. I went to Syracuse for undergrad and then to NYU for my master’s degree in Educational Psychology. I lived and worked in Manhattan until 2008 when I decided to move to Chicago to pursue my doctorate degree in clinical psychology at The Chicago School of Psychology. Christmas break my first year of my doctorate program I was home in New York where I met my now husband. He’s originally from Miami and was working for the NBA at the time, while also expressing his desire to move back to Miami one day. We had a long distance relationship for 3.5 years (!) until I was done with school at which time I moved back to New York. I did my predoctoral internship at a hospital in the Bronx. I later did my postdoctoral work at Jamaica Hospital in Queens, NY. That year my husband and I were married. One year after our wedding (I think to the day) we became pregnant with our older son, Ryan (now 2). I was working at Bellevue Hospital at the time with some of the most acutely mentally ill patients in the city. I was also working at a private practice seeing children and adolescents in the evenings. When I became super pregnant and no one would give me their seat on the subway, I decided to leave the private practice and just work my 9-5 at Bellevue which I may add was only 5 blocks away from where we lived. In March, 2016 Ryan was born. I went back to work a few months later and enjoy being a working mom who lived so close to her apartment that she could run home during lunch time to give her baby a kiss before bed. When Ryan was 11 months old we found out we were pregnant again. We had our second baby, Coby, in November, 2017. That same month opportunity in Miami came calling for my husband. We had some serious discussions about it – living as a family of 4 in a small apartment in Manhattan was getting to be super small. In March of this year we decided to make the move. I resigned from my job at Bellevue, my husband resigned from the NBA and we moved to Miami. My husband now works for the Miami Dolphins – his dream. I decided I wanted to be able to use my degree to do something else. I decided it was time to open my own practice and make my own hours. I am seeing clients for individual therapy and also I do testing for gifted placement, learning differences and ADHD. We are renting a house in South Miami and the space is pretty amazing compared to what we came from in NY.
Great, 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?
Graduate school is very tough – you become super isolated from the rest of the world always having work to do. I felt a lot of loneliness as I missed a lot of friends in NY (including my husband who was my boyfriend at the time). Long distance relationships are also super tough but definitely worth it if you feel it is right. Most recently, moving to a new city and trying to build a practice in a town where nobody knows you has been a struggle. I have been networking with a lot of folks in the community but will say that the process is very slow.
Allison Mark, Psy.D. – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I am a clinical psychologist with specialization in testing and assessment. I conduct gifted testing, neuropsychological and psychoeducational assessments. I look to uncover strengths and areas that are more challenging. I diagnose learning differences, ADHD, depression and anxiety disorders. I also do individual therapy with adults wishing to work on relationship issues or how past experiences have impacted their everyday lives. I am proud that I am finally doing my own thing after practicing for many years in NY. I believe what sets me apart from others is my warmth and my willingness to go to the school to conduct assessments making it more convenient for working parents.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
Passing my licensing exam and being able to practice on my own!
Contact Info:
- Address: 7800 Red Road
Miami, FL 33143 - Website: www.allisonmarkpsyd.com
- Phone: 305-680-3415
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allisonmarkpsyd/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/allisonmarkpsyd/
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