Allen-Michael Lewis, Licensed and Marriage Family Therapist, Clinical Supervisor

Allen-Michael Lewis is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and Clinical Supervisor at Heal Your Roots Wellness (HYRW). With a deep-rooted passion for family therapy, he has dedicated his career to guiding individuals and families toward healthier relationships.

Lewis earned his undergraduate degree in psychology from the University of Valley Forge. He further advanced his expertise by completing a Master of Science in Counseling Psychology with a focus on Marriage & Family Therapy from Chestnut Hill College. His educational background laid a solid foundation for his professional endeavors in family therapy.

Lewis specializes in working with clients to improve communication, navigate relationship dynamics, and develop healthy relationships with food. He integrates systemic techniques, such as genograms, to identify, understand, and change negative relationship patterns. He emphasizes the importance of self-kindness during the therapeutic journey and finding a therapist who is the right fit for the client.

Early Interest in Family Systems

Lewis’ passion for family therapy stems from his experiences within his own “very diverse and different dynamic kind of family.” He is fascinated by exploring an individual’s background and upbringing to understand how they interact with the world, describing himself as a “systems snob”. Lewis’ interest in genealogy and family research further fuels his curiosity about how a person’s past shapes their present and future. He uses genograms in his work to understand his client’s backgrounds. Although he does not use all the traditional symbols associated with genograms, he finds them invaluable for outlining, blocking, and replacing negative patterns with new, healthier ones.

Passion for Family Therapy

The passion that drives Lewis in his profession stems from his experiences within his own “very diverse and different dynamic kind of family.” He finds it fascinating to piece together the puzzle of an individual’s background and upbringing to understand their navigation of the world. Lewis describes himself as a “systems snob,” captivated by how a person’s past shapes their present and future. This passion translates into his work, where he places significant emphasis on relationship and family therapy.

Clinical Approach and Supervision

In his clinical approach, Lewis integrates systemic techniques into every session. He frequently employs the use of genograms to map out and understand patterns in relationships. Although he doesn’t use all the symbols traditionally associated with genograms, he finds them invaluable for outlining, blocking, and replacing negative patterns with new, healthier ones.

Lewis encourages self-kindness and acknowledges the challenging work involved in creating change. He recognizes therapy as a journey of self-discovery and growth, emphasizing the importance of finding the right therapist to walk that path with you.

Described as “hilarious and honest” by a colleague, Lewis incorporates his passion for family systems into his work as a clinician and supervisor. He begins each therapy session with questions designed to gather information as if he were constructing a genogram, mapping out the client’s relationships with key figures in their lives. Lewis believes that this approach empowers clients by illustrating the complexity of their family system. He then guides clients to recognize how past patterns influence their current relationships and works with them to develop new, healthier narratives and patterns.

More than just a therapist – Meet Allen-Michael Lewis the person

Beyond his professional endeavors, Lewis is an avid reader of fiction and enjoys creating genograms for the characters. He also shares that he comes from a family of athletes. He is a fan of Taylor Swift and enjoys watching dance.

Passion for Food and Impact of Diet Culture

Lewis is a passionate “foodie” with an active Instagram account, @MFTfoodie. He is dedicated to helping people cultivate healthy relationships with food, countering the negative impacts of diet culture. He believes in appreciating food for its flavors and benefits, rather than viewing it through a restrictive lens. By challenging societal norms around food, he promotes a balanced and enjoyable approach to eating, recognizing the cultural significance of certain foods and the harm of disconnecting from one’s heritage through dietary restrictions.

Although not currently accepting new clients, Allen-Michael Lewis is deeply committed to the field by supervising the next generation of Marriage and Family Therapists at HYRW. His dedication to mentoring and guiding MFTs ensures that the practice continues to deliver high-quality care to the community.