Expected and even positive life transitions tend to cause some level of stress and resistance. Life transitions can be accompanied by intense feelings of fear and uncertainty or even regret. Many young adults who I work with can struggle with leaving home for the 1st time, transitioning into adult life, even questioning the foundational beliefs they have grown up in. Those who are in a later stage in their life, may be experiencing caregiving of an aged family member, career transitions or an ‘empty nest’ for the 1st time in many years. These events can cause unique responses that one may need additional support around.

I work with my clients to cultivate resilience and vitality in their lives so they are able to adjust to changes that may seem out of their control. Life transitions are normal! We may not be able to solve every problem however you can learn how to adapt and better manage whatever you find as a burden in your life. 

Relational therapy is a therapeutic approach based on the idea that mutually satisfying relationships with others are necessary for one’s emotional well-being. We as humans thrive when we have authentic connections that affirm our sense of worth and make us feel part of something greater than ourselves. The culture and societal ideals that we live in, can powerfully impact our relationships and we find ourselves disconnected from ourselves and others as well as in destructive relationship patterns.

In this area, I work with individuals to address current or long standing issues that have had a perpetual impact on their quality of life. We look at enduring patterns then strategize how to shift the way we interact and communicate in meaningful relationships to have quality enduring bonds with others.

For couples and families, the psychological health of the family can directly impact the mental health of those who are a part of the family. We will look to understand the diversity and complexity of contemporary families then learn how to strengthen the foundation of your relationship and make lasting changes to the family system.

Specialites: Premarital Counseling and Marriage Counseling . 

Ashley is Prepare/Enrich Certified. For more information, click here: What is Prepare/Enrich? 

Ashley has completed the Level 1 Training in Gottman Method Couples Therapy and utilizes techniques from Gottman Method Couples Therapy in her work. For more information, click here: What is the Gottman Method?

All counseling is some form of grief counseling; We can mourn the loss of a dream, experience or expectation for ourselves. We can mourn a relationship or an important person in our life. The loss of a loved one can leave a cavern in our lives and heart that one can struggle to reconcile. I have been trained as a Thanatologist; an experienced professional specializing in death, dying and bereavement. I work with the bereaved to accept the reality of their loss, process the pain of the loss, adjust to a new environment and reinvest in the reality of a new life while still maintaining an enduring connection with your loved one.

Specialties: General bereavement, Spouse loss, Traumatic deaths, Loss of a child, Loss of an Infant and Traumatic birth experiences.

Disconnections can come in many forms of our lives. Beliefs about food, weight, and overall body/self-image can cause you to be disconnected from what’s important to you.

While working with my clients I utilize an integrative care model. This model allows me to join with a team with other providers, such as dietitians, doctors, and other clinical providers to support you safely as you work to manage your illness, because recovery doesn’t happen alone. In this therapeutic process, we will work on developing a healthy relationship with food, while shifting long-standing beliefs and ideals that impact your relationship with yourself and the world around you. The ability to feel connected and have a real sense of self-worth and agency in our lives allows us to have clarity about not just who we are as a person but who we want to be.

Specialties: Emotional Eating and Compulsive Overeating, Anorexia, Bulimia, Binge Eating Disorder and ARFID. Psychoeducation and family counseling.

Internal Family Systems is a non- pathologizing, transformative and evidence-based psychotherapy that helps people connect to the wisdom of the mind and body to understand then heal their wounded inner Parts. 

IFS believes in the multiplicity of the mind – We all have a Self that has inherent wisdom and protective Parts of ourselves that have an intended purpose. Outside constraints can force the Parts out of their intended purpose which can cause them to operate in extreme ways. 

Traditional psychotherapy would see these extremes as psychiatric symptoms or diagnoses. IFS sees these extremes as the Parts desire to be heard. IFS helps us understand why our Parts act the way they do and allow our Self to get into relationship with the Parts so we can make choices for ourselves to help the Part reconnect with its intended role.

We believe that “All Parts are welcome” and the ultimate goals in Internal Family Systems therapy is to restore trust in Self and achieve balance, harmony and wholeness both internally and with the outer world.

Ashley is Level 1 trained in Internal Family Systems from the Internal Family Systems Institute. For more information, visit the IFS Institute website.