Has anyone worked with this person? (Alison Arnold, AKA "Doc Ali")
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Anonymous
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My daughter's gymnastics coach recommended that we try mental coaching, and recommended "Doc Ali", who I guess has worked with a lot of gymnasts? Has anyone ever worked with her? The coach swears by her, but she seems shady. I don't think she's licensed anywhere? And she claims an MIT degree, but I don't think MIT offers that degree? Anyone ever work with her?
https://www.headgamesworld.com/about-us/alison-arnold-doc-ali-phd/ |
Anonymous
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She has been around a very long time. I met her and heard her speak at Gymnastics conventions in the 90s. I don’t have any recent knowledge, but I thought highly of her.
It is entirely possible that MIT discontinued that degree program after she earned her degree. |
Anonymous
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It looks like she maaaybe took some online classes to get a certificate at MIT. Her Ph.D is from someplace called "Union Institute and University" which appears to be an online diploma mill. Also, she literally can't spell "university":
https://www.facebook.com/docali |
Anonymous
The woman looks creepy. And what is "neurosciences"? 
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Anonymous
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I would be ..... cautious before working with her. Alexis Beucler (former elite) talked about how Doc Ali gave the information she told her during sessions to her coach, who then used it against her in training. She also tried to discredit Jamie Dantzscher when she came forward. This is in addition to her initial support of Larry Nassar, which she has since walked back.
I also agree with previous posters that there seems to be some ambiguity around what her credentials and licensure. |
Anonymous
| She used to have a great reputation but like a PP said, information has come out that makes me, as a parent, distrustful of her. I would look for another sports psych. There are plenty out there. |
Anonymous
| I slept at a Holiday Inn Express last night so I can help you. |
Anonymous
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"She received her PhD in Clinical Psychology and certification in Neuroscience and Leadership from MIT"
this seems pretty clearly intended to convey the impression that both her PhD and "certification" were from MIT. Shady. |
Anonymous
I would also question the coach that recommended her. It sounds like she's been around a long time, but that doesn't necessarily mean that she's the right person for your daughter. Go with your instincts. |
Anonymous
| Just trust your instincts, my advice would be find a local professional who fits your child’s needs if you determine they would benefit from it. I’m against putting any person in this industry on a pedestal (especially now but we should have known then too), there’s no one approach that works for every individual and people who are working as specialists should generally work independently in my opinion. I think most likely the recommendation is benign and probably just comes from years of certain people being the “go to” for this or that. And it should be noted this person has done probably thousands of workshops, online programs, sold CDs and workbooks etc so a lot of people have had positive or benign experiences with them and more passing contact. So it’s possible the coach had a positive personal experience. I certainly know people who have. And I heard the other stories. I can’t resolve the issues of certification, that I have no idea about. But I say go with your gut, and see what your child thinks, maybe they need a break, or some other change. |
Anonymous
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MIT's library has a comprehensive thesis search tool. There is no Phd thesis in it for an Alison Arnold. There are BS and MS theses in mechanical engineering for an Alison Suzanne Arnold, but no Phd and nothing in psychology.
https://mit.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=creator,contains,arnold,AND&tab=all&search_scope=MIT_theses&sortby=author&vid=01MIT_INST:MIT&lang=en&mode=advanced&offset=0 Also, the Congitive and Brain Sciences department, as least these days, is very clear that they do not offer degrees in clinical psychology. |
Anonymous
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I find her bio so strange. 4 weeks here? 12 weeks there?
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