Pastor Allyson Platt

Allyson grew up in Wallingford, Connecticut, as an active participant in First Congregational Church youth groups and choir, preaching her first sermon at age 16. She did her undergraduate studies at Southern Vermont College, George Washington University, and Southern Connecticut State University, receiving a BA in journalism. She then attended seminary at Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California, receiving a Master of Divinity. She was ordained by the Northern California/Nevada Region of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). 

 

Allyson has done social justice ministry and intentional interim ministry, as well as ecumenical ministry as Executive Director of the Worcester (MA) Ecumenical Council, and was Regional Minister for the Northeast Region/New England District of Disciples of Christ. She also served as Director of Relational Spirituality at YOU, Inc., in Worcester, developing a spirituality and mental health curriculum for youth in residential treatment programs. Since her first retirement from ordained ministry, she became a Convinced Friend and holds membership at the Storrs, Cconnecticut Friends Meeting (Quaker).

 

While in the role at YOU, Inc., Allyson felt a call to return to school for a second master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, which she was awarded from Antioch University in Keene, focusing on the treatment of complex PTSD. Prior to starting her private practice, she worked in adolescent residential and acute treatment programs as both therapist and director and worked as a helpline consultant at a child sexual abuse prevention agency. She served as director of and clinical supervisor at ServiceNet’s Holyoke Outpatient Clinic, as well as leader of the agency’s child trauma team. She has been in solo private practice since 2016, with specific specialties in complex trauma and adoption, and works with her therapy dog, Hero.

 

Allyson has two children. Ari, who lives near Lake George, works as a farrier, among many other careers, and has been a world traveler, including two seasons in Antarctica! John is married to Eden and they have two boys, Sam and Elliott. They live north of Albuquerque. John is a high school social studies teacher and bowling team coach. Allyson also had a foster son, Rob, who passed away at 29 from cancer.

 

Allyson’s interests are swimming, gentle hiking, sewing/quilting, reading, going out to hear live music, and dancing at the annual Green River Festival. She is a life-long fan of General Hospital, a habit she acquired as a child watching with her grandmother.