Ashley Cooper

I think about healing as a continuum- one that holds moments and connections that impact our sense of self, and our sense of belonging and possibility. Sometimes it’s so subtle that we don't notice our growth until suddenly things feel different - and you realize- you are different.

Just as moments and connections help us heal - some can really hurt. In order to make sense of the pain that we’re alone with, we often turn it inward. This can leave us with even more painful beliefs about ourselves and the world.

Whatever has brought you here, I want to understand. I know that right now I’m a stranger to you, and starting a new relationship can feel overwhelming. We will move at a pace that feels most comfortable for you.

Feeling better is completely possible. Feeling MORE than better is too.

Over the course of therapy, our relationship will evolve as you grow. Sometimes I will offer curiosity, new ideas and techniques. Other times, I will draw from the dynamic that we create to help you understand your experience in the world. Most of all, I will trust in the wisdom and strength you already possess to guide us. We’ll create space for the parts of you stuck in the shadows to come forward to be seen, known and supported. And together, we will help you embody your fullest self.

My approach to therapy is relationally driven and informed by psychodynamic, somatic, and attachment based theories as well as IFS (Internal Family Systems). I often work with individuals who struggle with food and the relationship to their bodies, post-traumatic stress, anxiety, relationship struggles and chronic beliefs that perpetuate feelings of inadequacy & loneliness.

I work intuitively and creatively, and do my best to listen for what is spoken without words. I have found that when we can move out of the “thinking mind” and into our somatic experience, we can really catalyze insights and shifts in our behavior. Some of the tools that I lean on to guide us include my certifications in EMDR, Embodied Eating Disorder Recovery, and Emotional Freedom Techniques (“Tapping”).