René Alonso, LPE-I

Clinical Therapist

René is a licensed therapist whose area of study is clinical psychology. He has been a practicing therapist for nearly forty years and speaks Spanish fluently. His primary area of expertise is family therapy. He believes that emotional and behavioral difficulties arise from problems in the functioning of the family system. He enjoys working with adolescents and adults with presenting problems that range from anxiety and depression to difficulties in following rules and directions. He is known for his use of humor and creativity in his work.

René’s approach to treatment involves developing an understanding of the individual’s complaints and how they relate to the functioning of that client’s family communication patterns. He then develops a treatment plan, after obtaining input from everyone involved. The specific steps involved in the treatment are communicated to the family, and any questions are answered so that everyone involved has a clear understanding of treatment goals and objectives. He emphasized the importance of clear and honest communication in the therapy process.

René is a native of Cuba and came to the United States when he was seven years old. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Benedictine College in Kansas, and his Masters in Clinical Psychology from the University of Kansas. He completed an internship at the Child Study Center at UAMS in 1980. He has worked primarily in outpatient settings. He has taught numerous seminars in Family Therapy, and currently leads a supervision group for other clinicians at Youth Home.

René feels that therapy should be an enjoyable experience because “clients have the opportunity to relate to each other in new, fun, and creative ways, which hopefully lead to a reduction in problem behaviors and a greater enjoyment of life”.