Ashley Lakely (she/her)

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist #142739

Lead Clinician

CLINICAL APPROACH

Hello there and welcome. I am so excited to connect with you! Whether this is your first time in therapy, or you are rejoining after some time away, I invite you to come as you are, make space for curiosity and get ready to cultivate a space where you can thrive. My hope is that together we can explore the complexities of this thing we call life and share in the highs and lows of your experiences. I pride myself in being real. I am not a head-nodding, “hmm-ing” therapist. I like to roll up my sleeves and dive in deep with my clients. I believe healing happens best in the context of a safe relationship and a safe space where you feel authentic, validated and welcomed as you are. I hope to walk your journey with you, while offering a warm presence and genuine connection.

I practice therapy with an eclectic approach - I will meet you where you are and utilize multiple theoretical orientations to best serve you and your needs. I frequently use cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness practices, shame resilience, body positivity, a strength-based approach, motivational interviewing, and family systems theory. I enjoy working with teens, college-aged young adults, and families.

ABOUT ME

When I am not in the office, you can find me at the beach with my Labradoodle, Cooper, soaking up some rays. I am a huge foodie and love to try new restaurants or cook something delicious. I have a passion for learning and get very excited when I can read a new book or attend a cutting-edge training. This year my goal is to hike 1,000 miles and to read 100 books.

SERVICES I OFFER

In-person & virtual sessions for:

  • Individual Therapy (Teens)

  • Parent Support Therapy

  • Group Therapy

THERAPEUTIC MODALITIES & PRACTICES I USE

  • Family Systems Therapy

  • Mindfulness

  • Motivational Interviewing

  • Narrative Therapy

  • Non-Violent Communication

  • Person-Centered Therapy

  • Solution-Focused Therapy

  • Art Therapy

  • Attachment-Based Therapy

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (trauma-informed)

  • Crisis Intervention

  • Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)

  • Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)


SPECIALTIES

  • Grief and loss

  • Self-esteem and self-advocacy

  • Anger

  • Boundaries


AREAS OF CONCERN I WORK WITH

  • LGBTQ+ Concerns (Gender Identity Exploration, Gender Incongruence, Interpersonal Connections, Parenting, Romantic Relationships, Sexual Orientation Exploration, Transitioning)

  • Life Transitions

  • Loneliness

  • Neglect

  • Oppositional & Defiant Behaviors

  • Parenting Issues

  • Perfectionism

  • Personality Disorders

  • Pessimism

  • Procrastination & Motivation

  • Psychosis

  • PTSD

  • Relationship Problems

  • School Avoidance

  • Self-Esteem

  • Self-Harm

  • Sensitivity To Rejection & Criticism

  • Sexual Assault (Survivor)

  • Shame Resilience

  • Shyness

  • Sleep Problems (Nightmares, Night Terrors, Insomnia)

  • Social Skills

  • Stress & Stress Management

  • Suicide (Attempted, Ideation)

  • Trauma

  • Trust Issues

  • Abuse (Emotional/Verbal, Physical, Sexual) (Survivor)

  • Academic Problems

  • Acting Out Behaviors

  • Aggression/Violence (In Kids/Teens)

  • Anger

  • Anxiety (Generalized, OCD, Panic Attacks/Disorder, Social)

  • Attachment Issues

  • Attention Problems/ADHD

  • Autism Spectrum

  • Blended Families

  • Body Dysmorphia

  • Body Image

  • Body Shame

  • Body Liberation

  • Boundaries

  • Bullied By Others

  • Communication Difficulties

  • Cultural Concerns

  • Depression

  • Depression (Seasonal)

  • Disordered Eating (ARFID, Binging, Orthorexia, OSFED, PICA, Purging, Restricting, Rumination)

  • Divorce (Supporting Kids/Teens)

  • Family Conflict

  • Identity Exploration

  • Impulsivity

  • LGBTQ+ Concerns (Anxiety, Coming Out, Depression, Discrimination from Family/Friends/Community, Gender Dysphoria)

* Areas of concern in bold are areas I'm particularly passionate about working with

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

Education:

  • Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University (2020), and Bachelor of Arts in Communication from Arizona State University (2016)

  • Completed Ample + RootED Foundations: Eating Disorder Training

Work Experience: 

  • Therapist and Lead Clinician at Teen Therapy Center (2022-present)

  • Associate and Marriage and Family Therapist at Starlight Community Services (2019-2022) - provided individual, family, and parent support to a wide variety of clients in Santa Clara County.