Lori McAllister

With more than twenty years as a military spouse, I built a life shaped by resilience, adaptability, and service while raising three boys across multiple duty stations—from Dover Air Force Base to the Pentagon. Navigating the constant transitions and unique pressures of military life gave me a deep understanding of the challenges faced by service members, spouses, and families.

Following a major life transition, I pursued a long‐held goal and earned my degree from McKendree University, becoming a Licensed Counselor. This path allowed me to transform decades of lived experience into a professional commitment to support others through change, stress, and personal growth.

I bring to my counseling work a blend of clinical training and firsthand insight into military culture, family dynamics, and the emotional demands of frequent relocation and reinvention. I am dedicated to helping individuals and families feel seen, supported, and empowered as they navigate their own journeys.

I take a strengths‐oriented, person‐centered approach. I believe clients already carry the resources they need for healing, and my role is to help them reconnect with those strengths. Trauma can obscure a person’s resilience, so much of my work involves helping clients recognize the capacities that have carried them this far and building on them as they move toward the changes they want.

A first counseling session focuses on three things: why you’re seeking support, what you hope to get from counseling, and building enough comfort to talk openly. You share what feels most important, the counselor asks guiding questions, and together you shape goals for future sessions.