Some people are born talkers.

I’m a natural born listener.

Hi, my name is Alison and I’m the founder of Objective Listening.

Several decades ago, I decided that I wanted to become an excellent listener. I realized that, when someone was talking to me, my mind was often elsewhere or I was already formulating what I wanted to say next. I then thought about how I’d felt when it was clear that I really wasn’t being listened to by someone. About how dismissed I’d felt. How unimportant. How invalidated. I then decided to train myself over the next year to become an engaged and active listener so that I would, hopefully, never make someone feel that way. I’ve never stopped listening.

I decided to offer this service after I realized that there was a gap that falls somewhere between talking to your friends or family and talking to a licensed therapist. Sometimes we need to just talk about ourselves and our experiences, without fear, judgement or opinion, without analysis or diagnosis, and in strict confidence*. And in this increasingly disconnected world we live in, the need to be heard is becoming more and more urgent.

*I am not a mental health professional and cannot diagnose or treat any mental health conditions. Listening sessions are completely confidential. I will not share what you tell me with anyone. If you are thinking about hurting yourself, please call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988. They are there to help 24-hours a day and your call is confidential.