About Ashley, LMSW
Complex trauma therapist
If you are ready to stop just surviving you have come to the right place.
Let's move out of surviving and into living life openly and honestly as your authentic self.
My name is Ashley and I work with people who are navigating the lasting effects of trauma and the complex layers of identity — the parts of ourselves shaped by our families, experiences, faith systems and culture. So many of us learn to hide or minimize who we are in order to feel and even be safe. Over time that can leave us feeling anxious, disconnected, depressed or alone. My goal is to offer a space where you don’t have to do that anymore — where every part of you is welcome. Many of my client’s often find their ability to release feelings they haven’t felt safe to express. Secrets they've kept, fears they carry, deep grief, memories they avoid and all the other complexities of life. For me as a therapist there is nothing better than when a client expresses feeling like they have a safe landing space because I know what it is like not to have one.
What it's like to work with me
While I strive to tailor therapy to each person I work with, I tend to be more relational in nature, meaning I am more down to earth, may share when appropriate and am not a distant, blank slate kind of therapist. I will laugh with you, be angry with you, curse with you and at times cry with you. I will also give you honest feedback. I have been practicing therapy for a decade, with previous experience working as a social worker supporting children and families navigating trauma and attachment issues. Now as a therapist working exclusively with adults I also utilize techniques from Internal Family Systems (IFS), Tapping (EFT), and meditation practices. My clients often tell me they hear my voice when they are self critical reminding them to be gentle, that they are proud of themselves for the first time in their life, that they feel cared about, that they feel more calm and hopeful after spending the hour together.
Outside of the office I enjoy spending time with friends and family, especially my dog Marley. I also have two cats and am a caregiver for a loved one. I own “too many” books and plants. I spend a lot of time outside. I feel most at peace outside, especially when the leaves are bursting with color or the ground is covered with glittering snow. One day I hope to train a therapy dog to bring into the office with me! Marley was raised to be a service dog but was disqualified for health reasons so he’s enjoying life as a very, very spoiled family dog!
On a more personal note I know what it is to suffer, to feel lost, to not know myself and to live with traumatic experience that affects who I am today. While I bring my education, experience and training into the office I also carry my intuition and history as well. I think it's important for clients not to regard me as just a professional or an expert but as a fellow, imperfect, but continually growing and healing human being. We are all human. None of us are super human, even if we try to be. And we were not made to white knuckle or lone wolf our way through this life. I know it’s vulnerable and scary to reach out but you won’t regret it.