Introducing Ashley!
We are so excited to announce Ashley B. as the newest member of our team!
Ashley is a Licensed Professional Counselor based out of our Windsor and Fort Collins locations. We asked her a couple of questions in order to get to know her a little better! Keep reading to learn more about Ashley B.! :)
Tell us a little bit about yourself!
I am from Wisconsin and have lived in Colorado for five years. I married my best friend, Alex, in September of 2022 in Bailey, CO. My family and I have always been competitive whether it’s who can hike the trail the fastest or who can lift the heaviest weight. I love being outside and enjoying cycling on the weekends. I love being creative and engaging in new adventures or activities whenever I have a chance.
Why did you become a mental health therapist?
I wanted to become a mental health therapist since my internship at Shriner’s Hospital for Children in Minneapolis. I worked with kids and teens who had to undergo amputations and other procedures due to accidents (not all were accidents) by providing procedural support and distraction. I realized that some of the kids were having traumatic reactions and I wanted to better understand their own mental health to help them through it. I applied to different schools and once I was accepted I haven’t looked back!
Why did you decide to work for IOME?
I decided to work for IOME because I am a firm believer in being a “practice what I preach” therapist. Meaning, that every skill or coping tool that I provide to my clients, I have used on myself. I love that IOME has the same philosophy of making sure that all clients and staff are taking care of themselves and utilizing their own self-care methods. IOME provides the work-life balance that, I believe, all humans are looking for and it is awesome that we get to model that for our clients.
Why do you believe self care is nonnegotiable?
Self-care is nonnegotiable because you only have one body, one mind, and one soul. If we are not taking care of ourselves, then we cannot enjoy life and be able to fully accomplish our own goals and dreams. My own self-care provides me with the energy that I need to be fully present for myself, my family/friends, and my clients. I believe this is what helps me maintain my own happiness and well-being and why I love to show up for my clients every day.
How do you incorporate guilt free self care into your daily routine?
I incorporate guilt free self-care by engaging in breathing exercises, meditation, and physical exercise. I usually space out breathing exercises and meditation throughout the day when I have breaks to allow my mind and body to rest. Normally, at the end of a work day I am at my gym lifting weights or doing a light cardio workout. Ritually, I show up every Saturday morning for my cycling class as I have amazing riders who not only support me in the class, but also encourage me to be better with every ride.
Who is your ideal client? Who do you love working with the most?
I am a kid at heart so I love working with kids, tweens, and teens. I love to be goofy and creative while helping clients through their own feelings aka feelings teacher. My goal is to be an adult that can create a safe place to discuss the hardships of being a kid, tween, teen and helping them and their families through it. My ideal client is anyone who has the mindset of wanting to be better. It is not easy taking the first step into admitting “Hey, I know I can be better”. This is where I praise all of my clients for taking that initial step of meeting with me so we can figure out their goals and help them be the best human they want to be.
What would you say to someone who is on the fence about starting therapy?
Change is one of the most difficult things to conquer and one of the most rewarding. Yes, you have to put in the work however, with therapy, you get to have the best accountability buddy ever! As a therapist, I want future clients to understand that therapy is not always discussing the negatives in your life. We celebrate and embrace the positives that happen too! Therapy is what you make it and your therapist will be ready to support you in all stages of life.