Ashley Thompkins
Ashley Thompkins
(she/her)
Hi, I’m Ashley, a holistic therapist who takes an integrative and compassionate approach to mental health and healing. I draw from evidence-based methods like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help shift unhelpful thought patterns, Solution-Focused Therapy to build on your strengths, and Compassion-Focused Therapy to foster self-kindness and reduce inner criticism. I also incorporate culturally sensitive and mind-body approaches, recognizing the deep connection between your thoughts, emotions, body, and environment. As a holistic therapist, I see you as a whole person—not just a diagnosis—and together we’ll create a safe, respectful space to support healing, growth, and balance in all areas of your life.
Get to know me
In our first session together, here's what you can expect
In our first session, my main goal is to create a safe, welcoming space where you can begin to feel comfortable. We’ll take time to get to know each other and talk about what’s bringing you to therapy. I’ll ask some questions about your current concerns, personal history, and what you’d like to get out of our work together, but there’s no pressure to share more than you’re ready for. I’ll also explain how I work, including the holistic, culturally sensitive, and mind-body approaches I use, so you know what to expect going forward. Together, we’ll start shaping goals that feel meaningful to you and begin building a therapeutic relationship based on trust, curiosity, and compassion.
The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions
One of my greatest strengths as a therapist is my ability to create a warm, non-judgmental space where clients feel truly seen, heard, and respected. I bring deep compassion, cultural sensitivity, and a strong intuitive sense for meeting people where they are. My holistic lens allows me to see the whole person—not just symptoms—so I can help clients connect with their inner strengths, mind-body wisdom, and capacity for healing. I’m also highly attuned to the impact of trauma, identity, and life experience, and I tailor my approach using evidence-based practices like CBT, Compassion-Focused Therapy, and mind-body techniques to support meaningful, sustainable growth.
The clients I'm best positioned to serve
I’m best positioned to support clients who are seeking meaningful, whole-person healing—emotionally, mentally, and physically. Many of the individuals I work with are navigating anxiety, stress, low self-esteem, trauma, life transitions, or feelings of disconnection. They may be highly self-critical, burnt out, or feeling stuck, and are looking for more than just symptom relief—they’re seeking deeper understanding, self-compassion, and lasting change. I also work well with clients from diverse cultural backgrounds who want a therapist who respects and integrates their unique values, identities, and life experiences. If you’re open to exploring how your mind, body, emotions, and environment all play a role in your healing, we’ll likely be a great fit.
About Ashley Thompkins
Ashley Thompkins offers therapy covered by Health Plan of San Joaquin - Medi-Cal in California.
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VirtualMy treatment methods
Solution Focused Brief Treatment
In our sessions, I use a method called Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, or SFBT for short. This approach is a little different from some other types of therapy because instead of spending a lot of time focusing on problems, we focus on your strengths and what’s already working for you. Here’s how it works: We focus on your goals. Early on, we’ll talk about what you want to be different in your life—what your ‘best hopes’ are from coming to therapy. We look at the future. I’ll often ask you questions like, ‘What would be different if things were better?’ or ‘What would tomorrow look like if this problem were gone?’ These questions help create a clear picture of what you're aiming for. We build on what works. Even if things feel really hard right now, there are often moments—big or small—where the problem isn’t as bad. We’ll look at those moments to figure out what you're doing that helps, and then we'll build from there. You’re the expert in your own life. I won’t tell you what to do. Instead, I’ll ask questions to help you discover your own strengths, resources, and possible solutions. SFBT is usually short-term and focused, which means we try to create meaningful change in just a few sessions, though you can take as much time as you need. The goal is to help you move forward in the direction you want, using what already works for you.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
In our sessions, I use a method called Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT. This approach is based on the idea that our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are all connected. That means how we think about a situation affects how we feel and what we do—and sometimes, those patterns can keep us stuck. Here’s how CBT works in practice: We explore your thoughts. We’ll look at the thoughts that come up in difficult situations, especially the ones that might be unhelpful or negative. Together, we’ll examine how realistic or accurate those thoughts are. We work on changing unhelpful patterns. Once we identify patterns that aren't working for you, we practice shifting those thoughts or finding more balanced ones. We also look at behaviors—what you're doing or avoiding—and how small changes can improve how you feel. You’ll build practical tools. I’ll help you develop coping strategies and skills you can use in real-life situations, so you’re better equipped to manage stress, anxiety, or whatever you’re working on. It’s collaborative and goal-focused. We work together to set clear goals and track progress. You’re very much in the driver’s seat—we focus on what matters most to you. CBT is evidence-based, which means it’s backed by a lot of research showing that it works for a range of issues like anxiety, depression, stress, low self-esteem, and more. It’s also typically short- to medium-term, but we’ll go at your pace.
Compassion Focused
In our work together, I use something called Compassion-Focused Therapy, or CFT. This approach is especially helpful if you struggle with things like shame, self-criticism, or feeling not good enough. It’s based on the idea that we all have an inner critic, but we can also develop an inner sense of compassion to help us feel safer, balanced, and kind toward ourselves. Here’s how it works: We explore the way your mind works. CFT is grounded in understanding how our brains are wired for survival. Sometimes the brain responds to stress or pain in ways that are harsh or critical, even if that response isn’t helpful anymore. We focus on developing compassion. That means learning how to treat yourself with the same kindness, understanding, and encouragement that you would offer a good friend. We also explore how to relate to others with compassion, without losing boundaries. We balance your emotional systems. CFT looks at three systems in the brain: threat (anxiety, anger), drive (achievement, striving), and soothing (comfort, safety). Many of us spend too much time in the threat or drive systems, and CFT helps activate the soothing system to create emotional balance. You’ll learn practical exercises. These might include breathing practices, imagery, writing exercises, or mindfulness techniques that help you feel more grounded and self-compassionate, especially in moments of struggle. CFT isn’t about ignoring pain or pretending everything is okay. It’s about learning to approach yourself with courage, warmth, and understanding—even when things are tough. That kind of inner support can create deep, lasting change.
Culturally Sensitive Therapy
In our sessions, I use a culturally sensitive approach to therapy. That means I recognize that your background, identity, and lived experiences—like your culture, race, religion, gender, language, or family traditions—are important and deeply influence how you see the world and how the world sees you. Here’s what that looks like in our work together: Your story matters. I’ll always be open to hearing how your culture, values, and community shape your experiences. I won’t make assumptions, and I’ll invite you to share what feels important for me to know so I can understand you more fully. Therapy is a safe space for all identities. Whether you’re navigating racism, discrimination, immigration stress, family expectations, or cultural stigma around mental health, this is a place where those experiences are valid and welcome. We explore challenges in context. Your struggles don’t exist in a vacuum. We’ll look at how outside pressures—like social norms, generational trauma, or cultural conflict—might be affecting your mental health, and how to move forward in a way that honors who you are. I’m committed to learning. I don’t expect you to educate me about your culture, but I’m open, curious, and respectful. If there’s something I don’t know, I’m willing to learn and check in with you to make sure I’m understanding correctly. Culturally sensitive therapy isn’t a separate technique—it’s a respectful, inclusive way of doing therapy that puts your identity and experiences at the center of the work we do together.
Mind-body approach
In our sessions, I use a mind-body approach to therapy. This means we look at the connection between your thoughts, emotions, and physical body, because mental health isn’t just in your head; it also shows up in your body. When we work with both together, healing can go deeper and feel more complete. Here’s what that looks like in practice: We pay attention to the body. Stress, trauma, anxiety, and even long-term emotional patterns often show up physically, like tension, fatigue, shallow breathing, or stomach issues. We’ll tune into those body signals to help you better understand what you’re feeling and what your body needs. We use tools that support the nervous system. This might include breathing exercises, grounding techniques, gentle movement, body scans, or mindfulness. These help calm your nervous system, release tension, and bring a sense of safety and balance. We create awareness and integration. You’ll learn to notice how thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations are connected. For example, a racing heart might signal anxiety, or a tight chest might show grief. As you develop more body awareness, you can respond more skillfully instead of getting overwhelmed. It supports healing from the inside out. Especially if you’ve experienced trauma, this approach helps create safety not just in your mind but also in your body. It helps you reconnect with yourself in a kind, supportive way. The mind and body are always communicating. This approach helps you tune into that conversation so you can heal, feel more grounded, and move through life with more ease and self-trust.