Alleen McLain, bilingual English and Spanish therapist at Watershed Counseling Associates in Jackson, Mississippi

Alleen McLain

JD, MAC, LPC, BC-TMH

Welcome - I’m glad you’re here.

Taking the first step toward therapy can take courage. Whether you’re dealing with anxiety, trauma, grief, relationship challenges, a difficult life transition, or simply feeling stuck, reaching out isn’t always easy. My goal is to offer a place where you can show up honestly, feel heard without judgment, and begin making sense of what you’re experiencing.

I am a bilingual Licensed Professional Counselor in Jackson, Mississippi, providing therapy in both English and Spanish for teens, adults, and couples. I have advanced training in trauma and complex trauma, EMDR, TF-CBT, and couples counseling. I see clients in person at Watershed Counseling Associates in Jackson and provide telehealth counseling throughout Mississippi.

You don’t have to have everything figured out before coming to therapy. We can start wherever you are.

A Compassionate, Trauma-Informed Approach

My approach to counseling is compassionate, collaborative, trauma-informed, and highly individualized.

Some clients come to therapy because anxiety or stress has become overwhelming. Others are carrying painful experiences from the past, grieving a loss, struggling in a relationship, navigating a major change, or wondering why they continue to feel stuck despite trying so hard to move forward.

I believe therapy gives us an opportunity to slow down and understand what is happening beneath the surface. Rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach, we’ll work together to find an approach that fits your experiences, needs, personality, values, and goals.

My hope is to offer grace for where you are while helping you move toward greater understanding, healing, and hope for your future.

Trauma, PTSD, Complex Trauma & EMDR Therapy

I work with teens and adults who have experienced trauma, including clients dealing with PTSD and complex trauma.

Trauma can affect much more than our memories. It can influence our relationships, emotional reactions, sense of safety, beliefs about ourselves, and the ways our minds and bodies respond to stress.

My trauma training includes Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT). I am also completing advanced training toward the Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP) and Certified Complex Trauma Professional (CCTP-II) credentials.

My goal in trauma therapy is to help you understand your responses without judgment while developing greater safety and stability and working through experiences that continue to affect your life today.

Trauma counseling and EMDR therapy are available in both English and Spanish.

Anxiety, Stress & Life Transitions

Anxiety can look different from one person to another. You may find yourself worrying constantly, overthinking decisions, expecting something to go wrong, feeling physically tense, or struggling to quiet your mind.

At other times, anxiety, depression, or emotional overwhelm may be connected to grief, difficult relationships, past experiences, school or career stress, family changes, or a major transition.

I work with teens and adults to better understand these patterns, develop healthier ways of responding to stress, and address the experiences that may be contributing to feeling overwhelmed or stuck.

Counseling for Teens

The teenage years can bring enormous emotional, relational, social, academic, and family changes.

I work with adolescents experiencing concerns such as anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, stress, difficult transitions, and relationship challenges.

Therapy can give teens a confidential and supportive place to better understand what they are experiencing, develop healthier ways to cope with stress, and grow in their ability to navigate difficult situations.

Teen counseling is available in both English and Spanish.

Marriage, Couples & Premarital Counseling

I also enjoy working with couples who want to strengthen their relationship, communicate more effectively, work through conflict, rebuild connection, or prepare for marriage.

I have completed Level 2 training in the Gottman Method, a research-based approach to couples therapy developed by Drs. John and Julie Gottman.

I am also trained in Prepare/Enrich, which helps couples better understand their relationship, recognize strengths and areas for growth, and build a strong foundation for marriage.

You don’t have to wait until your relationship is in crisis to seek counseling. Couples therapy can provide a place to slow down, understand one another more clearly, identify patterns that keep creating conflict, and develop healthier ways of communicating and connecting.

Couples and premarital counseling are available in both English and Spanish.

Christian Counseling & Faith Integration

For clients who want their Christian faith to be part of therapy, I enjoy integrating Christian theology and biblical beliefs into the counseling process.

Faith can be an important source of identity, meaning, wisdom, comfort, and hope. Therapy does not have to require you to separate your emotional health from your spiritual life.

We can incorporate your Christian faith into counseling to the extent that feels helpful and appropriate to you.

Faith integration is always based on your preferences. Clients of all backgrounds are welcome, and clients who do not want faith or spirituality incorporated into therapy will have those preferences respected.

Counseling in Spanish | Terapia en Español

I am fluent in Spanish and provide therapy in Spanish, not simply translation or language assistance.

For many people, being able to talk with a therapist in the language in which they feel most comfortable makes it easier to express complicated emotions, family experiences, relationships, and concerns that can be difficult to put into words.

I provide Spanish-language counseling for teens, adults, and couples, including counseling for trauma, anxiety, grief, life transitions, relationship concerns, and premarital or marriage counseling.

You can meet with me in person in Jackson or receive Spanish-language therapy by telehealth from anywhere in Mississippi.

My Training & Professional Background

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Mississippi and have been practicing counseling since 2023. I earned my Master of Arts in Counseling from Reformed Theological Seminary and am a Board Certified-TeleMental Health Provider (BC-TMH).

My clinical training includes:

Areas I Can Help With

I work with teens, adults, and couples experiencing:

  • Anxiety and chronic stress

  • Trauma and PTSD

  • Complex trauma

  • Depression

  • Grief and loss

  • Difficult life transitions

  • Relationship difficulties

  • Marriage and couples concerns

  • Premarital counseling

  • Personal growth

  • Faith and spiritual concerns

In-Person & Online Counseling Throughout Mississippi

I see clients in person at Watershed Counseling Associates in Jackson, Mississippi, and provide secure telehealth counseling for clients throughout Mississippi.

I am currently accepting new clients.

I accept Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS), Aetna, and Ambetter, as well as self-pay clients.

You Don’t Have to Keep Carrying This Alone

If anxiety, painful experiences, relationship struggles, or feeling overwhelmed have been taking up too much space in your life, you don’t have to wait until things get worse to reach out.

Alleen is currently accepting new clients for in-person counseling in Jackson and telehealth throughout Mississippi, with therapy available in both English and Spanish.

You’ve already taken a step by looking for help. Take the next one today and contact Watershed Counseling Associates at 601-362-7020 to schedule an appointment with Alleen.

About Me

I have been married to my husband, Hermes Tomás, since 2012. I’m a lifelong Mississippian, with the exception of a 12-year adventure living in Peru, and an avid Ole Miss fan.

I love traveling and have visited almost 30 countries and counting. When I’m not in the counseling office, you’ll often find me reading, working on the New York Times crossword, planning another trip, or spending time with my golden retriever, Qori.

I consider it a privilege to walk alongside people during some of the difficult and meaningful seasons of their lives. Wherever you’re starting from, my hope is that counseling can be a place where you experience grace for where you are and hope for where you’re going.

Hope & Grace Counseling, LLC

Hope & Grace Counseling, LLC is an affiliate of Watershed Counseling Associates. Hope & Grace Counseling, LLC is the custodian of all of Alleen McLain’s client records, including demographic, billing, and insurance information as well progress notes. Hope & Grace Counseling, LLC is an independent entity that shares physical space with Watershed Counseling Associates and contracts the services of Watershed's Client Care Coordinator.

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