ASHLEY
MERCHANT
LCSWA
Insurance Accepted: Blue Cross Blue Shield
Therapist
She/Her/Hers

Hey there! I’m Ashley. I appreciate you taking the time to get to know me a little bit. The decision to start therapy for the first time or continue your healing journey takes a lot of inner courage and strength.

We live in a world quickly changing with many demands and stressors. Therapy is like working out at a gym. Instead, it is building inner strength and emotional fitness.

We’ll partake on an introspective journey of self-discovery to discover your sense of identity, strengths, and direction – to empower you as co-creators to see your worth and value – to find a sense of meaning in your daily life.

We’ll explore grief and unhealthy relational patterns with the self and others that may be holding you back from experiencing a more connected, authentic, and loving existence. Addressing our innermost needs, attachment patterns, and challenges we face head-on provides the space to heal and see the world through clear, unfiltered eyes.

Due to the frequent demands placed on us and traumas that can happen in life, a dysregulated nervous system can lead to anxiety, frustration, feeling numb, people-pleasing, and depression. Events can happen at any point in our life. We can experience the loss of a job, partner, or identity; the loss of a loved one or pet; disease, illness, financial instability, or housing crisis that spin our worlds upside down.

Approaching the ascent up the mountain on a solo trek can feel lonely, painful, and challenging. Seeking support through therapy can provide an objective and safe space to navigate the rocky slopes, steep terrains, and dense forest we seek to pass rather than passively avoid, fight, or feel stuck in.

We will explore therapy through CBT, narrative therapy, person-centered therapy, family systems, mindfulness, motivational interviewing, and other tools that support your healing with a trauma-informed approach. My style is calm, empathetic, present, honest, and engaging – sometimes even quirky or funny. I received a graduate degree from the University of Denver and studied in Kenya and South Africa. I am an avid fan of nature, the outdoors, animals, adventures, creativity, health, and wellbeing – and I highly value advocacy work and addressing oppressive systems in society.

In the space we share, I will be more of a curious guide encouraging your growth as a compassionate, caring, and nonjudgmental ally on your journey. I will not tell you how to live but rather ask meaningful questions that support you in finding your inner truths. As Brene Brown said, “I now see that owning our story and loving ourselves through that process is the bravest thing that we will ever do.”

Please reach out to me at 828-548-1471 or complete the contact form to schedule a free 15 minute phone consultation to learn more!

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