Alis Africano
Family-focused therapist with practical strategies
- Credentials
- MD, LCPC
- Experience
- 15 years
- Licensed in
- Maryland
- Languages
- English, Spanish
- Format
- Online sessions
About Alis
Alis Africano is a licensed therapist in Maryland who focuses on family and parenting concerns alongside emotional and mood-related challenges. She brings 15 years of professional experience and speaks both English and Spanish. She treats stress, anxiety, depression, trauma, and relationship problems, and also supports people facing parenting challenges and life transitions.
Her sessions start with listening. She treats people as the experts on their own lives and helps them name strengths they can use.
Background and approach
She works to make goals concrete and manageable so change feels possible rather than overwhelming. Alis combines practical strategies with reflective conversation. She uses cognitive behavioral tools to shift unhelpful thinking and acceptance-based methods to build values-driven action.
When emotions run high, she can teach simple skills to manage intense feelings and improve communication within families. Her approach is collaborative and paced to each person or household. She helps clients set priorities, practice new ways of relating, and handle setbacks without blame.
Many goals focus on clearer communication, steadier moods, and more predictable routines at home. Alis has experience with a wide range of concerns, including grief, ADHD, bipolar mood disorders, multicultural and immigration issues, and domestic violence. Her training includes a medical degree (MD) and a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor credential (LCPC).
Therapeutic approaches and online access
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people clarify their values and take small steps toward a life that matters to them, even when uncomfortable feelings remain. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing new behaviors to reduce anxiety and improve mood. Both approaches are practical and aim to change daily patterns that affect family life and parenting.Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person or household to decide which methods fit their goals, needs, and preferences. Sessions may mix techniques and adjust over time based on what is helping most.
Online therapy is offered through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to make scheduling easier. These formats let people fit sessions into busy family routines, continue care during life changes, and choose the level of interaction that feels most comfortable. Licensed professionals can use these options to teach skills, practice communication, and track progress between meetings.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Less about arguing with difficult thoughts, more about loosening their grip and acting on what matters to you anyway. Values and committed action carry the work, which suits conversation at a distance.
Client-Centered Therapy
The direction comes from you rather than from a set programme. The therapist offers a warm, non-judgemental space to think out loud and work at your own pace. Online, this rests on the relationship rather than on being in the same room.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT looks at the link between what you think, how you feel, and what you do. You work on noticing unhelpful patterns and practising steadier responses. It suits online sessions well, because much of the work happens between appointments and can be talked through from anywhere.
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Specialties and expertise
Top specialties
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
Also works with
- Abandonment
- ADHD
- Anger management
- Attachment issues
- Bipolar disorder
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Coping with life changes
- Depression
- Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)
- Domestic violence
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- Fatherhood issues
- Grief
- Guilt and shame
- Immigration issues
- Impulsivity
- LGBT
- Life purpose
- Mood disorders
- Multicultural concerns
- Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Parenting issues
- Post-traumatic stress
- Prejudice and discrimination
- Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Self esteem
- Self-harm
- Self-love
- Sexual assault and abuse
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Somatization
- Trauma and abuse
- Workplace issues
- Young adult issues
Therapeutic approaches
- Experience
- 15 years
- Licensed
- Maryland
- Languages
- English, Spanish
Next step
Talk to Alis
- Takes a few minutes to look through
- Nothing to set up just to read
- Stop at any point