Ashley Shepard (she/her/hers)

As a queer woman, supporting LGBTQIA+ clients is deeply personal to me. My educational background in gender, sexuality, and women’s studies, along with training in working with queer and trans communities and decentering cisheteronormative norms in therapy spaces, shapes how I show up in my personal and professional life. I’m committed to creating a space where queer and trans clients can show up fully—seen, affirmed, and never asked to make themselves smaller.

I draw from a range of therapeutic approaches and thoughtfully integrate what feels most helpful for each person. I value the uniqueness of every client and take the time to understand their experiences, needs, and goals. My approach is flexible, collaborative, and client-centered, allowing therapy to evolve alongside you rather than expecting you to fit into a particular framework.

Specializing in feminist therapy, I use an approach that addresses the challenges marginalized individuals face due to oppression, discrimination, and intersecting identities. My approach empowers individuals to regain control over their lives, helping them understand their strengths, values, and personal power. I focus on embracing strengths, validating feelings, and utilizing techniques like self-disclosure, psychoeducation, power analysis, and social action outside the therapeutic space.

I utilize feminist therapy to understand how systems of power, oppression, and discrimination—not individual shortcomings—shape our experiences and mental health. I honor the impact of intersecting identities while helping clients recognize their strengths, values, and agency. My approach centers validation, collaboration, and exploring ways to challenge harmful systems both within and beyond the therapy space.

With training in Brainspotting and complex trauma treatment, I have a deep understanding of how trauma can impact our brains, bodies, relationships, and sense of self. My background in sexual trauma informs a compassionate, trauma-informed approach to supporting clients navigating PTSD, CPTSD, and the lasting effects of trauma. I tailor therapy to each person, creating space for healing, safety, and resilience.

With extensive experience supporting clients navigating suicidality and training in suicide assessment and anti-carceral approaches, I approach this work with compassion, curiosity, and care. I believe in slowing down, listening closely, and understanding the whole picture rather than making assumptions or rushing to conclusions. My goal is to create space for honest conversations about suicidality while supporting safety, connection, and autonomy.

I use relational therapy to explore how your relationships and experiences have shaped the way you see yourself and connect with others. I pay attention to patterns that emerge in relationships, including the one we build together in therapy, and use that connection to better understand what you need. This creates space to explore boundaries, communication, trust, and connection with openness and intention.