About Alison

Alison brings over 25 years of experience as a Clinical Psychologist, Somatic Sex Therapist, and Intimacy Expert. Her integrative approach is grounded in somatic research demonstrating that trauma and emotions reside in the body—not just the mind. Her body-based methodology offers a direct and transformative path to healing PTSD, anxiety, depression, and intimacy issues, reaching far beyond the limits of traditional talk therapy.

Licensed in both California and Tennessee, Alison has guided more than 27,000 couples and individuals in building deeper intimacy, boosting confidence, and overcoming challenges such as men’s performance anxiety and low self-esteem. She has also empowered women to reconnect with their bodies through compassionate, body-positive healing.

Recognizing how often couples silently struggle with low desire and emotional distance, Alison created The Mindful Touch Method—a transformative, somatic-based approach that helps partners reignite passion, rebuild trust, and deepen connection through guided, intentional touch. This proven method blends neuroscience, emotional attunement, and hands-on practice to restore intimacy where words alone fall short.

A trailblazer in integrative care, Alison helped launch the groundbreaking Integrative Medicine & Spirituality program at California Pacific Medical Center. She later served as Team Lead at UCSF’s Osher Center and the Institute for Health & Healing, where she played a key role in bringing mind-body approaches into mainstream healthcare. She also co-founded The Life Tapes Project, a legacy-based intervention featured in Omega: Journal of Death and Dying, underscoring her lifelong commitment to healing across the lifespan.

Alison’s expertise has been featured in Men’s Health, Sexual Health Magazine, KRON TV, and the SF Bay Guardian, including interviews during the release of Fifty Shades of Grey. She has consulted for the Dr. Oz Show, spoken at national AMA and AMTA conferences, and presented internationally on emotional intelligence, sexual health, and relationship boundaries.

In 2000, Alison founded the San Francisco Sex Therapy & Couples Counseling Center—the first of its kind. This pioneering practice has served as a model for future therapists and continues to thrive after 25 years, a testament to Alison’s enduring impact and trusted reputation in the field.

Please visit Alison’s website for more information! https://askalisonleigh.com