Therapy with Cancer Cushion PLLC

If you are looking for a childhood cancer therapist, AYA cancer therapist, cancer survivor therapist, or cancer caregiver therapist in Washington State, you have come to the right place.

The National Cancer Institute describes an individual as a cancer survivor "from the time of diagnosis through the balance of life." This definition acknowledges that cancer causes lifelong stress for patients, survivors, and loved ones. 

Whether this is your first time pursuing therapy or your tenth, you deserve care that honors your journey.

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There are several mental health specialty areas within the world of childhood and AYA cancer. My areas of focus include:

• Behavioral challenges during treatment - adapting evidence-based parent training approaches to fit the practical, developmental, and emotional needs of diagnosed children & siblings

• Survivorship changes - identity concerns, processing the treatment journey, survivor guilt, fear of recurrence, and other difficulties

• Grief and bereavement - anticipatory grief, disenfranchised grief, and additional support for navigating death and loss

Cancer is never the only trauma that patients and survivors have endured. I have experience working with people of all ages to address a wide range of concerns. If you are wondering whether we may be a good fit to work together, I highly recommend booking a consultation call to learn more.

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Please note that Cancer Cushion does not provide crisis services. Individuals experiencing a mental health emergency should contact their local crisis line or dial 988.

My name is Allie Neenan. I hold a PhD in Clinical Psychology from Eastern Michigan University and am a Licensed Psychologist in Washington State (License PY61617210). My primary therapeutic orientation is rooted in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, known as ACT. I am also trained in several other evidence-based treatments that leverage behavior change to improve well-being, including cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, and parent management training. I use techniques from these approaches to promote positive adjustment and healing.

I was introduced to childhood cancer advocacy during my college years. Through hosting bake sales, lemonade stands, and talent shows, I learned about the untenable burdens of childhood cancer. I developed a two-pronged passion: addressing the immediate psychosocial needs of today's children while pursuing better survival outcomes for tomorrow's children. The ethos of pairing individual support with systemic change is something I carry with me throughout my work. 

I am a proudly queer affirming, neurodivergent affirming therapist. The trauma of cancer is intersectional and often inseparable from additional stressors such as ableism, racism, homophobia, and other forms of oppression. My priority in therapy is to create a safe space to process all of these things together.

What services do you offer?

Please note that all of the following services are available via telehealth only in the state of Washington. 

I provide individual therapy for ages 13+. Consistent with Washington state law, interested clients ages 13 and older may inquire about scheduling and must provide consent for services on their own behalf. 

I provide child and family therapy for ages 12 and under. All patients ages 12 and under must be accompanied by a caregiver (legal guardian or alternative caregiver with written consent from legal guardian) for the first appointment. Caregiver involvement in ongoing treatment is tailored to the needs of each child and family.

How does therapy work?

Prior to the first appointment, all clients must complete intake paperwork. This includes consent forms and questionnaires about your needs for treatment. I will review this paperwork before we meet, and during the first appointment we will discuss your current concerns as well as "big picture" details of your life before and after cancer. Learning about your life in a holistic way allows me to make individualized treatment recommendations.  

At the end of the first appointment, we will determine whether to schedule a second appointment. We may also determine a weekly appointment time, which may or may not be at the same date/time as your first appointment time. Some clients prefer to schedule appointments "one at a time", taking time in between appointments to reflect on previous discussions. In some cases, one or both of us may determine that your care needs would best be met by another therapist. In that event, I will provide referrals to therapists who may be a better match. 

If you have additional questions that you would like to discuss prior to scheduling an initial appointment, you are welcome to book a consultation call.

How much do appointments cost?

All initial appointments are billed at a full-fee rate of $150. The full-fee rate for follow up appointments is also $150. Whenever possible, I maintain reduced-fee openings for follow up appointments for clients who experience financial barriers to ongoing care. Financial questions can be discussed further during a consultation call or during an appointment.

At this time, I am not in network with any insurance plans. Appointments may be paid for with a credit card, debit card, and/or HSA/FSA funds, and I am able to create a Superbill if your insurance provider accepts these for out of network benefits. You can learn more about Superbills here. This website is updated regularly, and information about new insurance billing options will be listed here on this page.

How can I book my first appointment?

All scheduling takes place via my booking website. I welcome you to first book an optional 10 minute consultation call at no cost. You are also welcome to schedule your first appointment if the information on this page aligns with the support you are seeking.

How do I know if I need therapy?

Meeting with a new person and sharing details about the challenges you have faced is an intimidating process. A lot of time and energy goes into building the therapeutic relationship, and it is worth pausing to reflect whether now is the right time to start that journey. If you feel that you will benefit from a dynamic, supportive, and professional relationship, then therapy is likely to be a good fit for you. There is no set criteria for whether your symptoms are "bad enough" to need treatment - therapy is here to help you thrive, not just survive.  

What are crisis services? Why doesn't Cancer Cushion provide crisis services?

The term "crisis services" refers to care that is needed immediately to protect someone's health and safety. Individuals at risk of danger require specialized care within a team-based setting. At this time, Cancer Cushion does not have the staffing necessary to provide this 24/7 access to care. Individuals seeking therapy to address symptoms that present a risk to safety (including, but not limited to, recent suicide attempt or current suicidal ideation with a plan) are advised to seek care with an alternative provider.

Because Cancer Cushion does not provide crisis services, individuals experiencing a mental health emergency should contact their local crisis line or dial 988.

Where else can I go for therapy?

If my offerings do not align with your needs, you can pursue therapy through a number of other pathways. Please note that I do not endorse any specific providers you may find using these search methods:

1) If you are using health insurance to pay for therapy, your provider will have a list of covered providers to choose from. You will likely need to consult with each therapist individually regarding their areas of specialty (e.g., expertise in cancer). Some questions you can ask to determine fit include:

• Do you have experience treating individuals with cancer, critical illness, or complex medical needs?

• If you do not have previous training or experience in the realm of cancer, are you able to seek consultation and education on this topic?

• How do you approach caring for people who have experienced trauma?

• Are you comfortable discussing heavy topics such as mortality or child loss?

2) Inclusive Therapists offers a search directory that is highly customizable. You can filter using the Specialties tab to select therapists who list "Cancer" as an area of expertise. There are also filters for location, provider identity, cost, and more.

3) The Psychology Today therapist search directory also has a Specialties filter with "Cancer" as an area of expertise. Other filters include insurance/cost, type of therapy, and client age range.

4) Psychology training programs usually operate training clinics where student therapists provide therapy at a significantly reduced fee. Student therapists are closely supervised by licensed psychologists to ensure the quality and safety of their services. These students are also required to review the latest literature on the issues their clients are experiencing, such as cancer. The Association of Psychology Training Clinics maintains a list of training clinics in the United States.

Because Cancer Cushion does not provide crisis services, individuals experiencing a mental health emergency should contact their local crisis line or dial 988.