Allen was a faculty member of the University of Michigan School of Social Work for more than 20 years and is now Professor Emeritus. She taught family theory and family-centered social work practice and has a number of publciations in family therapy books and journals. She maintains an active clinical practice, working with individuals, couples, and single-parent families. She offers continuing education for family therapists through an affiliation with the Ann Arbor Center for family therapists through an affiliation with the Ann Arbor Center for Family Research and Training.