Hi there, I'm Ashley. Have you been feeling anxious, depressed, or stressed? Are you struggling to manage a physical condition and accept the impacts these struggles have on you and your relationships? I help support individuals with emotional challenges as well as those dealing with acute and chronic physical pain/illness/injuries. Together, we can work towards accepting these difficulties and identifying effective coping skills, which will help in healing and regaining a sense of hope. Evidence-based therapies I utilize include CBT, DBT, ACT, and MBSR depending on your unique needs and goals. If you're dealing with anxiety, stress, sadness, loneliness, and the many difficulties that accompany physical pain/illness, I'm here to help. Seeking therapy can feel scary and overwhelming; yet is also a courageous step. I offer a safe, compassionate, non-judgmental space for you to heal and grow. I look forward to working with you and helping you to achieve your goals.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
After we have completed the initial assessments, we will work together to create an individualized treatment plan. In subsequent sessions, there will be time to process challenges and obstacles encountered since the last session, and discuss relevant issues as well as coping skills to help address them. Depending on the client and what is effective for them, there could be self-assigned homework that would then be followed up on in following sessions.
What treatment methods and tools do you utilize?
Treatment methods I use in sessions include CBT, DBT, ACT, and a variety of mindfulness and MBSR techniques. Within the CBT framework, we will work to build awareness around unhelpful/distorted thoughts and the impacts it has on your emotions, behaviors, and physical sensations (tools include thought logs/records, educational handouts). Within DBT, I provide psychoeducation on the four main modules and will assist in personalizing the appropriate skills. If you are interested in taking a more accepting and value-driven approach, I will draw from ACT by first providing foundational information and then introducing a variety of metaphors and exercises that connect to the 6 core processes. I have a wealth of traditional mindfulness and mindfulness-based stress reduction techniques and meditations that can be utilized in session as well as outside of sessions.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
I have been in the field for over 7 years in which I have worked specifically with individuals struggling with anxiety, depression, stress, low self-esteem, and body image issues. Additionally, I have worked extensively with individuals who are impacted by chronic physical illness/conditions. I have a passion for those who are struggling to rediscover who they are and find their "new normal". A huge part of the work I do is helping individuals to accept their current health, limitations, and abilities while simultaneously working towards creating a rewarding and satisfying life with their conditions.