Ashley Smith

I experienced an unexpected loss at a young age and, after some resistance, eventually found my way to therapy. Having a space where I could work through what I was experiencing had a lasting impact on me and ultimately inspired me to provide that kind of support for others.

I work best with clients who are curious about themselves and ready to make meaningful changes, even when change feels uncomfortable. You don't need to have everything figured out. Being willing to explore your patterns and try something different is a great place to start.

I love working with clients who are ready to understand themselves on a deeper level, especially those navigating overthinking, people-pleasing, relationship anxiety, boundaries, or self-trust. I also genuinely enjoy getting to know what makes each client them, including their interests, passions, quirks, and the things that light them up.

You don't have to have the "right" answer in therapy. You can be messy, uncertain, change your mind, make mistakes, or not know what you're feeling yet. Therapy is a place where we can figure it out together.

I chose Thriveworks because I value being part of a practice that helps make mental health care more accessible and gives clients multiple options for finding a therapist who feels like the right fit.

I'm inspired by watching clients begin to trust themselves. There is something incredibly rewarding about seeing someone go from questioning themselves or feeling stuck in an old pattern to realizing, "Wait, I actually can handle this differently."

Our first session is really about getting to know each other. I'll ask about what brought you to therapy, what's been going on in your life, and what you'd like to change. You don't need to show up with a perfectly organized explanation of everything. We'll figure out where to start together.

By the end of our first session, I want to have a better understanding of what you're struggling with, what matters to you, and what you hope to get from therapy. Just as importantly, I want you to have a sense of who I am as a therapist and whether working together feels like a good fit.

I'm warm, honest, nonjudgmental, and pretty down-to-earth. I won't expect you to have everything figured out, but I may gently challenge patterns that are keeping you stuck. My goal isn't to tell you what you "should" do. It's to help you understand yourself well enough to make choices you trust.