Hi, I’m Ashley — a licensed clinical social worker and licensed clinical addiction specialist, trauma-focused therapist, anxiety/overthinking specialist, and proud dog mom to a pup named Chaos (because yes, life really is on-theme). I work with teens and adults who feel overwhelmed, stuck, anxious, burnt out, or exhausted from repeating the same patterns — even the ones they swear they’re done with — and not knowing how to break out of them. Many of my clients care deeply, think constantly, and carry more than their fair share. Whether you’re dealing with trauma, panic spirals, people-pleasing, emotional shutdowns, recovery challenges, family stress, or a brain that refuses to “just calm down,” you’re not alone — and you don’t have to figure it out by yourself. My style is warm, direct, and practical. I’m a real person in the room — steady, supportive, and honest — and I’m not afraid to use gentle humor when it helps take the edge off. Therapy doesn’t have to feel cold, confusing, or like talking to a silent statue. You’ll get someone who listens deeply, explains the why behind your patterns, challenges you when you’re ready, and celebrates even the tiny wins you’re convinced “aren’t a big deal.”
In our first session together, here's what you can expect
Our first session moves at a comfortable pace. I’ll listen to what brought you in, what’s been weighing on you, and what you’d like life to feel like six months to a year from now. You don’t need perfect clarity — just honesty. We’ll talk about your current concerns, your goals, and what you need from therapy. I’ll also explain how I work, what tools we’ll use, and how we’ll create a plan that fits your life and your pace. My goal for session one is simple: you leave feeling understood, supported, and no longer alone with what you’re carrying.
The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions
Clients often tell me therapy feels safe, grounded, and surprisingly manageable with me — even when we’re working on hard things. I take time to explain the “why” behind anxiety loops, trauma responses, emotional shutdowns, and overwhelm, because these reactions are never random. I balance honesty with compassion: validating your experience while gently challenging patterns that aren’t serving you anymore. I’m highly experienced in trauma, anxiety, depression, and recovery-related work, using evidence-based approaches like CBT, DBT, ACT, somatic strategies, and trauma-focused care. I focus on real-world skills. Talking helps — but practicing tools between sessions is where change actually sticks. I break growth into manageable steps so progress feels empowering, not overwhelming.
The clients I'm best positioned to serve
I’m a strong fit for teens and adults who want a therapist who is supportive, straightforward, and relatable. I work especially well with people who feel anxious, emotionally overwhelmed, burnt out, or stuck; those navigating trauma, grief, recovery challenges, or major life stress; and anyone wanting to understand why they react the way they do. If you appreciate warmth, directness, practical tools, and a little humor — and you’re ready (or almost ready) for change — we’ll likely work well together.
Motivational Interviewing
MI helps when you want to change… but also feel overwhelmed, tired, or conflicted about where to start. We explore your goals and motivation at your pace — no pressure, no guilt-tripping, just clarity and direction.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I use CBT to help you understand how your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors influence each other — like finally seeing the whole puzzle instead of one confusing piece. Together, we identify patterns that keep you stuck and replace them with ones that help you move toward the life you want.
Acceptance and commitment (ACT)
ACT helps you stop fighting every uncomfortable thought or feeling and start focusing on the things that matter. Instead of wrestling your mind all day, we redirect your energy toward building a meaningful, grounded life that feels like yours again.
Trauma Informed Care
Trauma can show up in many ways — anxiety, panic, shutdowns, irritability, people-pleasing, overthinking, numbness, or feeling constantly on edge. I use a trauma-informed approach that blends TF-CBT, CBT, ACT, somatic tools, grounding techniques, and nervous-system regulation. Together, we make sense of these survival patterns without judgment, build emotional and physical safety, and develop steady coping skills that actually help your nervous system calm down. The goal isn’t to “fix” you — it’s to help you feel more grounded, supported, and in control, one manageable step at a time.
Strength-Based
I tailor therapy to you. Your strengths, your humor, your resilience, your lived experience — those guide our work. You’re not here to fit a therapy model; the therapy adapts to fit your life.