Testing
BS in Psychology and Minor in Early Childhood Education, University of Central Florida
MA in Marriage and Family Therapy and certificate in Play Therapy, University of Central Florida
Ph.D. in Counselor Education and post-baccalaureate certificate in disability leadership, Virginia Commonwealth University
Dr. Allen holds a doctorate in counselor education and supervision from Virginia Commonwealth University and a post-baccalaureate certificate in disability leadership. She brings extensive experience as a counselor educator at Christian universities, where she employs a student-centered and servant leadership approach to preparing master's level counseling students for professional practice.
Dr. Allen's clinical background encompasses non-profit counseling and psychoeducation with couples and individual adults, applied behavioral analysis and social skills training with children and adolescents with neurodevelopmental disabilities, and individual and group counseling for college students. Her commitment to developing future counselors is grounded in academic excellence and faith-based principles that emphasize service to others and the broader community.
As an active researcher, Dr. Allen focuses on family stability, disability-related mental health services, and well-being among neurodiverse individuals and families. She specifically investigates family adjustment and relationship hope among parents of children with disabilities, aiming to inform empirically supported clinical practices that can be integrated into both mental health practice and counselor education curricula.
Dr. Allen's overarching professional mission is to increase access to quality, integrated mental health services for individuals and families affected by autism and related neurodevelopmental disorders through innovative research and comprehensive counselor education.
