About Me

Alison Sauer, MA, LPC - Licensed Professional Counselor in Loveland, Ohio

Sometimes life hits hard. Relationships get messy, trust is shaken, and the path forward feels uncertain. I'm here to walk alongside you through those moments.

I'm Alison Sauer, a licensed professional counselor specializing in couples therapy and individual counseling in Loveland, Ohio. I work with individuals and couples at every stage, whether you're navigating the excitement of premarital life, the challenges of young families, midlife transitions, or the quiet shifts of empty nesting. I also support couples facing infidelity, intimacy struggles, communication breakdowns, the ripple effects of addiction, or the possibility of separation.

My Journey to This Work

I didn't take a straight path to becoming a therapist, and I think that's made me better at what I do.

Before earning my master's degree in counseling, I was a teacher, a small business owner, and a fitness professional. Each of those roles taught me something essential about connecting with people, meeting them where they are, and creating environments where real growth can happen.

As a teacher, I learned how to break down complex ideas into understandable steps and how to adapt my approach to different learning styles. As a business owner, I learned resilience, problem-solving, and what it takes to build something from the ground up. As a fitness professional, I learned that sustainable change happens gradually, with consistency and compassion, not through force or perfectionism.

But my most important teacher has been my own marriage. I've been married for over 25 years, and I can tell you honestly that it hasn't always been easy. I know what it's like when the person you love most can also be the person who frustrates you most. I've navigated conflict, worked through hard seasons, learned to repair after hurts, and chosen connection over and over again even when it felt easier to retreat.

That lived experience shapes everything I do as a couples therapist. I don't come to this work with a sense of superiority or judgment. I come with humility, genuine empathy, and a deep respect for how hard it is to show up vulnerably in a relationship.

Who I Work With

For couples, I specialize in working with partners who feel stuck in painful patterns, disconnected, or unsure about their future together. I help couples dealing with communication breakdowns, infidelity recovery, loss of intimacy, trust issues, and the everyday challenges that come with building a life together. My work is grounded in the Gottman Method, a research-based approach with over 40 years of science behind it.

I also offer Discernment Counseling for couples on the brink of separation or divorce. This is a specialized, short-term process designed to help partners slow down, gain clarity, and make an intentional decision about whether to work on the marriage, move toward separation, or take time to decide. I'm trained in this approach through the Doherty Relationship Institute.

For engaged and seriously dating couples, I provide SYMBIS premarital counseling. This isn't just a checklist of topics to discuss before the wedding. It's a personalized exploration of your values, communication patterns, expectations, and potential challenges, so you can build a strong foundation for a healthy, lasting relationship.

For individuals, I support people navigating anxiety, depression, major life transitions, relationship concerns, grief, family dynamics, women's issues, or simply feeling stuck and unsure of what's next. Much of my individual work is informed by my couples therapy training because so much of our emotional well-being is shaped by the way we relate to others and to ourselves.

My Approach

I integrate multiple evidence-based approaches including the Gottman Method, The Doherty Approach, and mindfulness practices to create a supportive space where you can be honest, explore difficult emotions, and develop practical tools for change.

Both the Gottman Method and The Doherty Approach are grounded in decades of research on what makes relationships succeed or fail. The Gottman Method brings structured assessment and intervention tools, while The Doherty Approach emphasizes shared responsibility, practical traction between sessions, and engaging both partners from the first moment. I draw from both depending on what will be most helpful for your unique situation.

My approach is warm, direct, and grounded in research. I won't tell you what to do or take sides in your conflicts. Instead, I'll help you understand the patterns keeping you stuck, build skills to communicate and connect differently, and create the clarity you need to move forward with intention.

Therapy with me isn't about fixing you or making you into someone you're not. It's about helping you build the awareness, skills, and confidence to create the relationships and life you actually want.

Training & Credentials

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• Master of Arts in Counseling

• Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), State of Ohio

• Level 1 Trained in Gottman Method Couples Therapy

• Trained in The Doherty Approach to Couples Therapy

• Trained in Discernment Counseling, Doherty Relationship Institute

• Certified SYMBIS Premarital Counselor (Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts)

Inclusive, Affirming Practice

I provide LGBTQ+ affirming therapy and welcome all individuals and couples regardless of identity, orientation, or relationship structure. My goal is to create a safe, non-judgmental space where you can show up authentically and work toward the life and relationships you want.

Areas of Focus

I work with clients on a wide range of concerns, including:

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• Anxiety and stress management

• Depression and emotional overwhelm

• Couples communication and conflict

• Infidelity and trust repair

• Intimacy and connection issues

• Discernment counseling (deciding whether to stay or separate)

• Premarital preparation

• Life transitions (career changes, becoming parents, empty nesting, divorce, loss)

• Relationship patterns and dynamics

• Parenting challenges

• Women's issues

• Self-esteem and personal growth

• Coping skills and emotional regulation

• Mindfulness and self-awareness

• Asperger's Syndrome and neurodiversity in relationships

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Outside the Office

I believe therapists should be whole people, not just professionals in a vacuum. Outside of my practice, I spend time with my husband, our kids, and our two dogs. I enjoy staying active, experimenting in the kitchen, doing puzzles, reading, playing video games, and exploring new ideas through books and podcasts.

These parts of my life remind me what it means to stay curious, make mistakes, laugh at myself, and keep growing. They also remind me that balance isn't about perfection. It's about showing up for the things and people that matter, even when it's messy.

Let's Work Together

If you're considering therapy, you're already taking a brave step. Whether you're an individual struggling with anxiety or life transitions, a couple trying to save your relationship, or partners preparing for marriage, I'd be honored to support you.

I offer both in-person sessions at my Loveland, Ohio office and secure Telehealth sessions for clients throughout Ohio. I'm currently accepting new clients and have morning, afternoon, and evening appointments available.

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