(My 8:30am-9:30am availability begins August 5th) Ashley Buffington, LPC is a warm and compassionate therapist and certified spiritual director. She is dedicated to creating a safe space for healing from trauma, reducing anxiety, and increasing well-being. She uses EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) and mindfulness-based CBT to help people achieve their goals. She also gently implements Christian spirituality into sessions ONLY upon request from clients.

What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?

In our first session together, we'll start with brief introductions and informed consent. We then discuss your history, as well as the specific challenges you're facing. This will help me create a tailored plan for us to work through in follow-up sessions.

What treatment methods and tools do you utilize?

The methods I use most often are EMDR and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a form of treatment that helps you regain your life after trauma, as well as reduce anxiety, depression, stress, and to even process grief. In this therapy, we use eye movement or other forms of bilateral stimulation (tapping, sound, or tactile) as we process through past events and present triggers. People often feel less overwhelmed and better able to rationally judge a situation after the process is complete. People even feel a shift in how they view themselves. Mindfulness CBT is also a tool that I use. We can get through any single moment of our life, if we are willing to train our minds to do so.

Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.

Throughout my career, I have been told by clients and their family members that I have a calming presence. Working on ourselves is stressful! The last thing we need is to feel judged by the people we are looking to for help. My nature as a therapist is well suited for the anxious person, especially those who have experienced trauma. I can also tell it like it is, but I do so gently and at times with humor. I am also a Certified Spiritual Director, with an emphasis on contemplative Christian spirituality. This is either really appealing to you or it may make your skin crawl, depending on your experience with those who identify as Christians. I get it. This aspect of my work is just for those who want it implemented in their sessions.

About Ashley Buffington