Bismarck, ND— Prominently featured in The Inner Circle, Alison Traynor is acknowledged as a Top Pinnacle Professional for her contributions to Championing Mental Health and Anti-Trafficking Initiatives.
Ms. Traynor has dedicated her career to making a significant impact in the fields of mental health, crisis intervention, and anti-trafficking therapy. With a wealth of experience and a profound commitment to her community, she continues to lead and inspire those around her.
As a suicide prevention, trauma-focused, and brief strategic family therapist for the Youth Correctional Center of the state of North Dakota since 2023, Ms. Traynor plays a pivotal role in the lives of young individuals in crisis. Simultaneously, she serves as an anti-trafficking therapist for Youthworks of North Dakota, a position she has thrived in since 2021.
Ms. Traynor’s academic journey includes earning a Bachelor of Social Work from Minnesota State University at Moorhead in 2008. Her commitment to education and professional development led her to achieve a Master of Public Health in 2020 from the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences, followed by a Master of Social Work from the University of North Dakota in 2021. Her dedication to her craft is underlined by her certification as a licensed clinical social worker and her expertise in Cognitive Processing Therapy and Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy.
An active member of various organizations and boards, Ms. Traynor serves as a board member of Summit Counseling Services, Incorporated, co-founder of the North Dakota Suicide Prevention Coalition since 2019, and a member of the MPH Community Foundation Board for the University of North Dakota since 2019. Her role as the Out of the Darkness training and material coordinator for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention since 2015 underscores her commitment to mental health advocacy.
Throughout her career, Ms. Traynor has worked with numerous agencies, including PRIDE, Incorporated, Hopes House, Red River Human Services Foundation, Children’s Day Treatment, the state of North Dakota, Easter Seals Goodwill North Dakota, Incorporated, Abused Adult Resource Center, and Summit Counseling Services, Incorporated. Her diverse experience has equipped her with a unique perspective on mental health and anti-trafficking initiatives.
Outside of her professional life, Ms. Traynor enjoys spending time with her family, engaging in weight training, running, being outdoors, hiking, and practicing Pilates.
In her future projection, Ms. Traynor remains committed to driving growth and success in her fields. She is particularly focused on developing effective strategies to eliminate gaps in services and care, especially for vulnerable young people at risk of suicide.
Her guiding philosophy, “With help, there is hope,” encapsulates her dedication to making a meaningful difference in the lives of those she serves.