Most people experience emotional distress at some point in their lives.

Many turn to family and friends for support. This, however, is sometimes not enough. A trained therapist can help to better understand inner turmoil, develop insight or awareness of thoughts and feelings, and help us make real changes in our lives.  Making the decision to begin therapy can be difficult and it may be intimidating. Additionally, choosing the right therapist can sometimes feel overwhelming. A trained professional can often assist with getting through various difficult life phases, transitions, and struggles. Dr. Allison Schechter strives to create a trusting and collaborative relationship with clients, as she believes that this relationship is a vital and critical component of therapy.

We must trust one another as we explore the journey of self-discovery, growth and change.

Innerchange Psychological Services focuses on treating adults who struggle with a wide variety of difficulties including depression, anxiety, relationship concerns, postpartum and parenting challenges, adjustment difficulties, transition challenges, and various other identity or phase of life struggles. We all can benefit from having the space to process our thoughts and focus on ourselves. The process of therapy allows people to gain self-awareness, understand better their behavior and relationships with others, and how to make real and lasting changes in their lives. We hope you find this website helpful in answering your questions about the therapy services Dr. Schechter provides and how to contact us for additional information. Please do not hesitate to contact our practice with any questions or if you would like to begin the journey of self-healing, discovery, and change.

If you are an adult seeking individual therapy, please note that Dr. Schechter currently offers individual therapy via an online platform for clients throughout the states of Virginia, Illinois, and New Hampsire. The platform is similar to FaceTime or Zoom but is a secure HIPAA protected platform to protect your privacy. This allows clients to be able to access the therapy they desire while in the comfort of your own home or a private location of your choice.

“PEOPLE ARE JUST AS HAPPY AS THEY MAKE UP THEIR MINDS TO BE.”      -ABRAHAM LINCOLN

People are sometimes confused or mystified by the idea of therapy, or they may have a misconception or misunderstanding of what therapy involves. Therapy (sometimes also referred to as "counseling" or "psychotherapy") should not be a mystery. In the most simple terms, therapy is a personal learning process focused on meeting your goals for self-improvement. Oftentimes people seek therapy when certain issues or problems feel overwhelming or begin to interfere with their overall level of functioning. A therapist is trained to help people work on facilitating lifestyle changes, provide supportive and objective feedback, help identify underlying causes of distress, and teach coping mechanisms to facilitate positive change. It is up to you to decide areas that need improvement or change. Dr. Schechter is here to assist in the journey of self-healing, growth, insight, and transformation.

Dr. Schechter current offers individual therapy with adults. The initial stage of individual therapy typically involves gathering information about a person's life, relationships, and background and the therapist will work with the individual to identify areas that the person wants to address. People may seek therapy for a wide variety of reasons, from coping with major life challenges or changes, dealing with chronic depression or long-standing anxiety, or because they are having difficulty in their relationships. Others simply desire personal growth and a greater understanding of themselves and their behaviors or patterns. People seek out individual therapy for a wide variety of reasons; however, the overall goal of therapy is for people to live a more insightful, content, and personally fulfilling future. 

The process of therapy can be short-term and solution focused, or more long-term and process oriented. You will work together with Dr. Schechter to set the pace and identify your needs. Therapy sessions can last for approximately 55-minutes, 45-minutes, or 30-minutes, based on your individual needs. Sessions are conducted via an online platform from the comfort of your own home. This eliminates the time and hassle involved in traveling to a therapist’s office and allows for more flexibility in scheduling.

Meet Dr. Allison Schechter-Licensed Clinical and Forensic Psychologist and Practice Owner

I obtained my Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from an American Psychological Association approved program at Argosy University-Phoenix Campus in 2007. I am licensed as a psychologist in Virginia, Illinois, and New Hampsire and I have worked with a wide variety of clients in private practice therapeutic settings. I began working in private practice in 2008 when I first became licensed as a psychologist and in 2012 I decided to branch out and begin my own practice. I built a successful and thriving private practice in Illinois and I started a practice in Virginia in 2019 after relocating to the area. I have extensive experience in working with women, men, and couples as they navigate through various life stages and challenges. I have a particular interest in working with women and moms as they navigate some of the unique challenges faced by women in work, relationships, and the transition and challenges faced in motherhood. I strive to create a supportive, non-judgmental, open, and comfortable environment that allows people to process and share their innermost thoughts and feelings. I believe that people can find inner peace and contentment and I approach therapy from a strengths based perspective.  My approach is to develop a trusting collaborative relationship as I work with my clients to identify and work toward attainment of your personal goals. I practice primarily from a cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) perspective, while also integrating psychodynamic, person-centered, and supportive approaches to meet the needs of each individual client. I consider my style to be straightforward, supportive, compassionate, and oftentimes filled with humor (sometimes we all just need to laugh).