Alexa “Ali” Tabb, LCSW

Alexa “Ali” Tabb (LCSW118667) is a licensed clinical social worker living in the Bay Area. Ali has worked with children, adolescents, families and adults since 2012 to address a range of issues including anxiety, depression, trauma, harmful sexual behaviors and family conflict. She recently joined A Step Forward, Inc. and is excited to continue her work providing mental health treatment for individuals, families and groups. Ali received her credential to work with adolescents with harmful sexual behaviors in Indiana in 2016, and is passionate about supporting families who seek healing from sexual abuse. Ali has worked with children and adolescents in numerous settings: residential and group homes in Chicago, Illinois and community mental health programs in Indianapolis, Indiana. Ali’s therapeutic foundation rests on attachment theory, family systems theory, developmental and interpersonal neurobiology theory, dialectical behavior therapy, and a somatic, climate change and trauma-informed approach. She encourages patients to engage in holistic healing through mindfulness and sensorial awareness skill development in addition to development of insight as levers for change.

Ali values balancing the serious nature of challenging therapeutic work with levity and humor, and isn’t afraid to admit when she’s wrong. Ali welcomes patients to use their voice and advocate for themselves in the therapy office as practice for outside the office, and she will often collaboratively assign “therapy homework” for patients to practice new skills and ways of being in their day-to-day lives. Ali prioritizes patient’s insight development and behavioral change.

Ali is completing her doctoral dissertation from Indiana University’s School of Social Work. Her dissertation explores how clinicians who work with adolescents with harmful sexual behaviors understand and address pornography use in treatment. She is committed to research-informed practice and loves to understand the why behind questions in research and clinical settings.