ALLAY - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Associate Marriage and Family Therapist
Alyssa Ballis is an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT). She graduated from California State University, Fresno in 2009 with a Bachelors Degree in Business Management and Organizational Leadership and a Certificate in Entrepreneurship. More recently she graduated with her Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy from Fresno Pacific University Biblical Seminary in 2023.
Alyssa has nearly two decades of experience working with youth, leading small groups and mentoring adolescents ages 12-18. She has a passion for working with teens and young adults. During her practicum year she worked at the Marjaree Mason Center working with individuals and families impacted by domestic violence. She also gained experience in co-facilitating several BIP (Batterers Intervention Program) groups and is a certified BIP group leader.
Alyssa joined Allay in July of 2023 working with individuals who have experienced trauma, domestic violence, depression, anxiety, adjustment issues, grief/loss. She also has training in helping clients explore issues relating to spirituality/faith and mental health. In addition to her time at Allay, she spent time working in a Partial Hospitalization Programs setting, providing specialized care to clients struggling with eating disorders and other co-occurring issues. Alyssa utilizes CBT, DBT and Narrative Therapy to create individualized treatment goals with each of her clients. Alyssa is known to bring a thoughtful and accepting presence to the therapeutic experience, and her clients often appreciate her ability to bring hope as she helps them work through difficult life stressors and mental health challenges.
When Alyssa is not at work, she enjoys spending time with her family, working out with friends or doing various crafting activities.
Job Titles:
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Job Titles:
- Associate With Allay Psychological Services
Regina Banks is a registered psychological associate with Allay Psychological Services. Working under the supervision of two licensed clinical psychologists, she is completing specialist-level training in general psychology. Prior to joining Allay, Regina completed her bachelor's degree in English at Fresno Pacific University. She went on to Washington University in St. Louis to earn her Master of Social Work in 2016, with a concentration in mental health, race, and socioeconomics. Regina is also a nationally certified school psychologist (NCSP) and holds a California pupil personnel services credential (PPS) in school psychology.
Regina is currently a fifth-year clinical psychology doctoral student at California Southern University. Prior to this, she graduated from William James College in Newton, Massachusetts with a Master of Professional Psychology and Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies (CAGS) in school psychology. There, Regina's studies were focused on the intersection of mental health and race among historically marginalized populations (e.g., African American, Native Peoples). She was also a Fellow with the institution's Center for Multicultural and Global Mental Health and Black Mental Health Graduate Academy. This specialized education and training prepared Regina to provide culturally sensitive mental health services to underserved and diverse populations. Additionally, she is in the process of earning certification in genealogical research, which is a unique aspect of her work at Allay.
Regina has worked and trained in public schools, community-based health clinics, and non-profit organizations. She previously held positions with Boston Healthcare for the Homeless Program and Fenway Health in Massachusetts as well as Central Valley Health Network in California. These experiences encompassed working with local and state public health associations and other key stakeholders to develop models for community health and mental health improvement. Regina also has experience working in public and private schools, supporting at-risk students. Finally, she has expertise in learning disabilities; special education determination and program planning; social-emotional learning; Autism; LGBTQ+ specific and gender identity expression issues; cultural identity formation; and psychological and psychoeducational testing.
Regina works with individuals and families to address an array of emotional and/or behavioral concerns (e.g., depression, anxiety). In her school-based work, she collaborates with students, families, and school staff to identify barriers to academic achievement and overall well-being. More broadly, Regina is interested in supporting individuals in understanding their personal history; highlighting how culturally-based values, beliefs, thought patterns, and behaviors contribute to their self-identity; and helping individuals recognize how they perceive themselves and the world. An integral part of this work is exploring individuals' family histories through ancestral research (i.e., genealogy). Combined, Regina's work with clients draws from several modalities, which include cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness, and cultural identity theory.