Ashley O'Hearn (She/her/hers)

I have an interest in helping clients who struggle with worry and panic. I use a lot of the concepts from ACT to help clients allow themselves to be in the discomfort and to not resist their feelings along with meditative and mindful techniques.

I am comfortable utilizing evidence-based cognitive processing therapy (CPT). I use the manualized CPT treatment with clients. My previous clients have reported significant improvements in their trauma symptoms.

I believe that depression is a combination of previous difficulties in relationships that have caused us to have negative and unhelpful patterns in our thinking about ourselves, others, and the world. Hence, I tend to use psychodynamic or emotion- focused therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and communication skills/assertiveness training.

I believe that our attachments and the relationships that we had in our formative years shape who we are. It is helpful, especially if there has been relational issues or insecure attachments to caregivers, to process the emotions associated with the painful memories. Understanding why we think, feel, and behave the way that we do, is healing in and of itself because we can become aware of our underlying patterns and then in the future chose to act differently.

CBT is wonderful in helping clients learn the tools to assist in and gaining control over their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. I incorporate this therapy often in my work with clients because it is almost always effective and helpful.

CBT is a wonderful therapy and I provide clients with the tools to be able to utilize the skills on their own in order for them to be their own cognitive behavioral therapists outside of sessions.

I believe that our attachment styles and formative relationships/environment shape who we are. Psychodynamic therapy is most effective when clients have an insecure attachment style and/or experienced relational trauma. I find that delving into the emotions and helping clients process painful memories while coming to understand underlying patterns, is a corrective and healing experience.