Hi, I’m Jamie Alvey, a Brainspotting therapist based in Birmingham, Alabama.
I’m a trauma-informed clinician who specializes in working with creative and athletic performance blocks, flow state, anxiety, and grief.
My approach to therapy:
We aren’t always aware of the parts of ourselves that we lose touch with as we move through life—the joy that feels out of reach after pain and loss, the creativity that retreats when we’re afraid of getting it wrong, the confidence that fades after criticism or rejection.
I aim to help people look within, heal deeply, and reconnect with these parts of themselves so that they can live, perform, and express themselves with more ease, confidence, self-compassion, and authenticity.
Therapy isn’t only about healing what has hurt or disappointed us, it’s also about imagining and discovering what is possible, developing new ways of understanding ourselves and our stories, and creating a life that feels more aligned with who we are.
I believe we all have the capacity for deep inner healing and personal growth. I also believe that it’s more important than ever for us to access, support, and share the light and gifts we have within us—our creativity, our voice, our talents, our authentic self, and our unique inner world.
You don’t need a diagnosis or crisis to benefit from this work. My clients are often highly capable, intuitive, creative, and driven—but feel blocked by something they can’t quite name. Together, we work gently but effectively to release what’s getting in the way.
The most important part of my work is the therapeutic relationship—one that relies on compassion, curiosity, and collaboration to help you move toward your goals. While clinical experience and training guide my practice, my work is also influenced by my own lived experience as an artist and musician who spent years blocked by grief and self-doubt. This work is a part of my story. I’m also certified in Brainspotting, a therapeutic approach that uses focused eye positions to work with the emotions and experiences that hold us back.
Creativity is a powerful and inspiring way to connect with ourselves and the world around us. I have a deep appreciation for the emotional and energetic demands of creative work and believe that therapy is, in many ways, a creative process for both me and my clients.
Taking care of myself is an important part of how I show up for my clients. I‘m intentional about doing things that give me time and space for reflection, recharge, connection, and joy. For me, this often looks like spending time with my husband and two children, learning new instruments, playing music with friends, going to live performances, working with mixed media and fiber arts, and volunteering with my favorite local community arts programs. Staying connected to my family, my community, and my own creativity in meaningful ways helps me be more grounded and present in my work.
“Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes.”
-Carl Jung
View from the Cave by Anne Strand Artist’s note by Anne: “Although this painting began with Plato’s Allegory of the Cave as its inspiration, it soon morphed into a journey toward the light. The darkness was overcome by an opening—the mouth of the cave, or the proverbial “light at the end of the tunnel.” It reminded me of the spark that dwells within and hovers without—as a guide and beacon for each of us—though sometimes, we forget.”
You’re in the right place if you:
Want therapy that honors your body, mind, and spirit—not just your thoughts
Feel like experiences from the past are affecting how you feel, think, create, perform, or relate in the present
Are recovering from moments of embarrassment, criticism, or injury, especially those related to your creative work or athletic performance
Would like to connect with more joy and creativity in your life
Are feeling blocked or inhibited in your creative performance, creativity, writing, athletic performance, and/or everyday functioning
Feel the effects of self-doubt, imposter syndrome, perfectionism, burnout, fear of failure, or fear of being seen
Experience generalized anxiety, performance anxiety, or stage fright
Struggle to access your performance abilities under pressure or in front of an audience
Are highly self-aware and understand your patterns intellectually but still find yourself repeating them
Want to understand and transform the beliefs and emotions that drive your unwanted behaviors and patterns
Are experiencing grief, loss, or a significant life transition and are looking for compassionate support to help you navigate the process
Education & Credentials:
Bachelor and Master of Social Work from the University of Alabama
Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) and Certificate for Private Independent Practice (PIP) in Clinical Social Work and Social Casework, Alabama Board of Social Work Examiners
Certification & Specialty Trainings:
Certified in Brainspotting
Brainspotting Phases 1, 2, & 3
Free to Perform Brainspotting Program with Ruth Chiles
Brainspotting and Spirituality, Religion, and Contemplative Practice
Somatic and Attachment-Focused EMDR
Professional Offerings:
In addition to individual therapy, I also enjoy leading workshops, trainings, and conversations around creativity, creative blocks, performance blocks, flow state, trauma-informed care, trauma-informed arts education, and trauma-informed ministry.
Frequently Asked Questions
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While I work with a wide range of clients, I specialize in:
Creative and athletic performance blocks
Writer’s block
Performance anxiety, stage fright, and fear of public speaking
General anxiety, stress, and emotional overwhelm
Expanding creative flow and authentic self-expression
Reconnection with passion and purpose
Support for highly sensitive and creative individuals
Processing difficult life transitions
Grief and loss
I often use Brainspotting in my practice and am a certified Brainspotting clinician, you can read more about that below!
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Brainspotting is a brain-based experiential therapy that helps you access and process the emotions and experiences from the past that may still be affecting you in the present. It relies on the idea that where you look affects how you feel, using focused eye positions to access deeper parts of the brain and unlock deeper healing—not through logic or “figuring it out,” but through your body’s natural processing system. It’s especially helpful for performance blocks, anxiety, and unresolved emotional patterns. You’ll find that I often joke with clients about how bizarre this work sounds but I continue to be amazed by the meaningful shifts that happen.
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Talk therapy can be so helpful for insight and reflection and we’ll still make time for that! However, traditional talk therapy often doesn’t reach the deeper parts of the brain where stuck patterns live. Brainspotting works somatically—through the body—to help you release emotional blocks, increase regulation, and make shifts in how you feel and function. This often involves building awareness around how you experience certain emotions in the body—for example, stage fright may feel like a tension in your throat and grief may feel like a heaviness in your chest. Building this awareness will be a very important part of our work together. If this is a new concept for you, don’t worry, I’ll be there to guide and support you throughout the process!
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Sometimes, our emotions and experiences impact how we connect with our creativity, confidence, and abilities. If we’re afraid of failure, criticism, or getting injured again, our creativity and/or performance will likely be impacted. Brainspotting can be helpful in processing the emotions and experiences that are getting in our way so that we can feel more connected to ourselves and our abilities. Here are a few examples of areas where Brainspotting can be helpful:
Performance anxiety, stage fright, and fear of public speaking
Muscle tension when performing or playing
Creative blocks, including fear of failure, perfectionism, self-doubt, fear of judgement, external pressures, and burnout
Recovering from moments of criticism, embarrassment, or injury related to your creativity, creative performance, or athletic performance
Processing disappointing outcomes related to auditions, tryouts, or competitions
Preparation for auditions and/or performances
Conflict patterns with bandmates or other members of your creative team
Reconnecting with the fun and excitement of performing or playing
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Yes. You don’t have to be an artist or athlete to benefit from Brainspotting. Performance can show up in many areas of life, not just on a stage or playing field. I work with people who are navigating grief, anxiety, self-doubt, feeling stuck, or simply wanting to feel more connected to themselves. Whether you’re an artist, entrepreneur, athlete, parent, or simply someone wanting to find more peace, confidence, authenticity, and intention, I’d love to hear from you.
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I currently only offer private-pay services and do not bill insurance for services provided. I can provide a detailed superbill that you can submit to your insurance for possible out-of-network reimbursement. Please keep in mind that a superbill or insurance claim requires a diagnosis.
I also offer reduced fees based on individual need and welcome your questions about ways to make therapy accessible for you.
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I deeply value the arts and the people who dedicate their lives to creative work. As a way to support working artists, I reserve some reduced-fee availability for professionals in the arts community, including educators and performers.
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I offer in-person sessions in the Birmingham area. I also offer telehealth through a secure telemedicine platform for clients located in Alabama.
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Sessions typically last an hour but I also offer extended sessions and intensives as needed. Some clients come to me for brief work focused on short-term goals, others are looking for longer term personal growth. We’ll work collaboratively to find a rhythm that works for you.
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I schedule all sessions directly with clients. If you’re interested in working together, I’d love to hear from you! You can contact me through the form below, by email at jamie@jamiealveycounseling.com, or by phone at 205-927-3891. I offer free phone consults to answer questions you may have and see if we might be a good fit to work together.
Contact Me
Interested in working together or learning more? I’d love to hear from you! Use the space provided here or email me at jamie@jamiealveycounseling.com. I offer free phone consults to answer questions you may have and see if we might be a good fit to work together.
