Therapists in Charleston, IL

Taking the first step reaching out to a counselor can be difficult, however, Ashley loves meeting new people and quickly is able to put people at ease. She finds great enjoyment hearing other people’s stories. Her approach with children and teens includes a lot of humor and is lighthearted with lots of play and silliness. Her approach with adults is unconditional positive regard seeing them through the lens of grace. She always offers encouragement and hope with a side of gentle challenging of unhealthy patterns.

Not a single one of our lives has escaped pain, hurt, rejection, loss, or other traumatic events. It’s a part of the world we live in; a part we cannot evade. Each generation, the trauma becomes more complex, as it builds on the previous generation’s unresolved trauma. It presents itself as depression, anxiety, fatigue, sleeplessness, trouble concentrating, self-destructive behaviors (including addiction), physical illness, overwhelming guilt or shame, and the inability to form healthy relationships. But it doesn’t have to continue. You can loosen the hold that it has on your life. You can end the cycle of generational trauma.

What challenges are you facing ? What seems to be holding you back from obtaining what you really want from life? I offer a holistic approach to emotional and mental and behavioral health care, and work to provide empathy and understanding . My goal is to provide a warm peaceful environment so clients, can focus on their own personal growth and empowerment. I would like to help you deal with anxiety, depression, substance use issues, or other challenges. I have worked in counseling for 30 years, and have helped many clients build a strong stable recovery lifestyle, or achieve other goals that have really improved their lives.

Are you experiencing difficulty in your relationships, engaging in self-sabotoging behavior, feeling paralyzed in your life? You can create change. You don't have to remain anxious, depressed, confused or paralyzed in relationships or in life. Together we can create a safe space for you to feel both understood and empowered. We will work as a partnership exploring the hurdles that prevent growth, and the patterns of behavior that are no longer helpful but difficult to let go of. Together we will lay the foundation for lasting change.

I have 15+ years of experience as a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor. I have worked in outpatient care, residential treatment centers, and psychiatric hospitals. My special interests include anxiety and compulsive behavior disorders, personality disorders, bipolar disorders, addiction, depression, and grief. I am passionate about engaging people in a healing process that replaces shame with serenity and wellness.

I believe that we are all placed in a specific place and time for a greater purpose. Life is hard and many of us lose our way and this leads to confusion, lonliness and often we develop addictive and maladaptive behaviors to deal with our issues. Our issues are real but we go about solving them in a nonproductive way. I help a client look at alternative ways of living often pulling from his strengths and encouraging him to incorporate spirituality as a guide. I am a Christ follower and incorporate His teaching into my own life and therapy.