The Parent Back-to-School “Contagion” Effect
Phillip Allen
August 31, 2026
How your childs back to school anxiety can be just as prevalent in you, and how to manage it.
Ages Served: 5 and up
Specialities: Anxiety, Behaviorial Concerns, Depression, Emotional Regulation, Grief, Life Transitions, Neurodivergence, Parenting, Relationships, Trauma
I approach counseling through a person-centered and trauma-informed lens, drawing on CBT and solution-focused strategies as they fit each client. My clinical interests center on children, adolescents, and families. I nurture young people by helping them develop emotional regulation, build resilience, and feel genuinely seen, while supporting parents and caregivers as collaborators in the process.
I’m a writer and an artist, and I spend a lot of time reading both fiction and nonfiction. I’m also a long-time student of combat sports and the psychology behind them. Most days, you’ll find me with my partner, doing yoga, or making a home cooked meal for us both.
I bring a wide range of clinical and life experience to my work. My graduate counseling internships have been at Ala Wai Elementary School, where I worked with K–5 students on emotional regulation, behavioral challenges, and trauma-informed support, and at Farrington High School, where I worked with adolescents experiencing anxiety, peer conflict, and academic stress. Before graduate school, I worked as a Behavioral Technician with children ages 3 and up, many on the autism spectrum, developing my clinical eye for behavior, reinforcement, and family collaboration. I am also a U.S. Navy veteran, which has shaped my composure, professionalism, and capacity to work in team-based environments.
Master of Science in Counseling Psychology, Chaminade University of Honolulu Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Hawaii Pacific University
How your childs back to school anxiety can be just as prevalent in you, and how to manage it.