Therapy

As a Licensed Marital and Family Therapist (LMFT) I believe every person has the divine right to live a healthy and fulfilling life. Accessing and refining the tools necessary to do so and applying them to one’s life can be a challenging process. I see my role as guiding people through the journey of identifying and harnessing the power of their unique strengths, so they may achieve satisfaction from life and relationships.

I have a deep passion for working with families which grew out of my many years as an Infant and Toddler Montessori Teacher at Puffin Heights Montessori School. This experience inspired me to obtain a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Alaska Anchorage, followed by a Master of Science in Human Development and Family Studies where I specialized in Couple and Family Therapy at Iowa State University of Science and Technology.

My work with families is heavily influenced by the pioneers of the field of Marriage and Family Therapy, and their theories which include; Virginia Satir and The MRI Group (Strategic Family Therapy), Salvador Minuchin (Structural Therapy), Murray Bowen (Bowenian Theory), Ivan Boszormenya-Nagy (Contextual Family Therapy), and Gregory Bateson (Family Systems Theory). 

I am equally passionate about working with couples, both those striving to strengthen their marriage, as well as those who are separated and/or contemplating separation or divorce. I have received extensive training as a couples therapist and primarily utilize Terry Real’s Relational Life Therapy, though my work is also heavily influenced by the research and theories of Drs. John and Julie Gottman of The Gottman Institute.

Through these theoretical orientations I aim to strengthen relationships and create lasting change -even when working with couples and families who are experience life transitions brought on by divorce.

Although my areas of specialization are primarily focused on couples and families, I truly enjoy my work with individual clients. I appreciate the experience of empowering people to dig deep, evaluate their way of being in the world,  strengthen their sense of self, and live their truth. I am inspired by the works of, Virginia Satir, Richard Schwartz, Terry Real, Brene Brown, Ester Perel, and Cheryl Strayed and frequently incorporate their teachings into my work with individuals.

I have trained with Terry Real and practice Relational Life Therapy as my primary approach when working with couples. I have completed Levels 1 – 3 of his therapist training program and see the benefits of this work in my daily practice with couples. Often, couples on the brink of separation or divorce find their way back to one another in my office when they learn to harness the skills of relational living as they begin to shift from years of criticism and contempt, to closeness and re-connection.

I have also completed Levels  1 & 2  of the Gottman Method Coupes Therapy program and enjoy integrating these strategies and interventions into my clinical work.

I welcome the opportunity to work with you if you feel my therapeutic approaches may benefit you, your relationship, or your family.

-Ashley