Aly Grider

Alyson Grider, LCSW (she/her) is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and founder at Operating With Love. Aly is deeply committed to advancing social justice within the field of mental health and substance use treatment by challenging systemic barriers and promoting equitable, compassionate care for all. A graduate and adjunct professor of Indiana University Bloomington’s School of Social Work with a concentration in Mental Health and Addictions, Aly integrates her lived experience with mental health and substance use into both her clinical practice and advocacy efforts.

Aly’s work centers on harm reduction principles—honoring the autonomy, dignity, and wisdom of each individual. Aly specializes in working with trauma, substance use, anxiety, depression, and other mental health concerns. She is trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and IFS-informed EMDR, integrating these modalities to support healing from trauma and the development of self-compassion. Aly’s therapeutic approach blends EMDR, Internal Family Systems (IFS), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Harm Reduction Psychotherapy (HaRT), Somatic Experiencing, Motivational Interviewing, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), tailoring treatment to each person’s unique needs and values.

Aly creates an environment that is inclusive, nonjudgmental, and deeply human—one that encourages authenticity, exploration, and growth. She currently offers sessions virtually and in person at the Indiana Recovery Alliance office. In the first session, a bio-psycho-social-spiritual assessment will be completed to assess strengths and needs. This assessment will support both Aly and the client to partner together in creating holistic and individual treatment plan goals that will guide our therapeutic relationship.