Great question!

Look, I get it! Meeting a new therapist for the first time and spilling your guts can be incredibly nervewracking! Here are some things you can expect while we work together:

​

Me:

I'm a pretty warm, casual, laid back, direct, compassionate, humorous, socially conscious and justice-informed human. You get the authentic, yet professional, Ashley. I am usually wearing jeans and sitting cross-legged in my chair while chugging down a coffee, because keeping it real, I am not a morning person!

​

My Office:

Comfort is my jam, and I have set my office up much like my own personal den and living room.

My space is small, yet cozy. I have a comfy couch, lots of lamps and plants, pillows and blankets galore, and plenty of fidgets and fun things to tinker with.

I want to make sure your needs are met so you feel comfortable and safe. Don’t hesitate to let me know if there’s anything you need!

​

The Process:​

The intake session (session #1):

A therapy intake assessment is really just a casual first meeting where you get to know your therapist and they get to know you.

Think of it as more of an interview.

I'll ask you questions about your life, your current situation, any struggles you've been facing, and what you'd like to get out of therapy.

It’s a chance for me to understand your background, any mental health history, and overall lifestyle, so I can get a full picture of how best to support you.

Regular sessions:

We usually spend the first 10-15 minutes getting updates from your week before diving in and processing.

I usually ask you what's been on you mind, or what you feel you need to work through that day.

I may ask questions that help you see things from a fresh perspective, point out patterns you might not have noticed, or suggest ways to cope.

You drive the bus. I'm just the lady helping you navigate in the passengers seat. You decide what we talk about and what our focus is.

The pace is yours to set, and the goal is to create a safe (yet brave!), comfortable space where you can feel truly heard and supported.

​

At this point in time, I am in private practice part-time as I have a full time employer Monday - Thursday.

I am available some weekday evenings after 6 PM (via telehealth), Fridays 9 AM - 5 PM (both telehealth and in-person), and Saturdays from 9 AM - 2 PM (both telehealth and in-person).

My sessions run between 45 - 60 minutes, depending on the need and how much we have to process that day.

For an intake assessment, I charge $200/hour.

For an individual session, I charge $175/hour.

Yes, I do!

Below are the plans I can take:​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

​

Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield

(*Excluding UnityPoint plans)

​

United Healthcare (UHC)

​

UMR

​

Health Partners

​

Midlands Choice

​

Aetna

Wellpoint (Iowa Medicaid MCO) Iowa Total Care (Iowa Medicaid MCO)

​

If I don't accept your insurance, I can provide a superbill for you to submit for out-of-network (OON) reimbursement. The full session fee of $175 will be charged at date of service. Please be sure to read the OON portion of my consent for services document to better understand OON benefits.

​

For those who wish to not use their insurance and to pay privately, I charge $200 for an intake session and $175 for a general therapy session, which will be charged at the date of service.

I have limited sliding scale slots—currently they are all full. I do not keep a waiting list, but I would be happy to provide you with some referrals.

​

Please feel free to check in with me from time to time to see if any of my sliding scale slots have opened up.

Yes! I am located in Des Moines, Iowa, just down the road from Merle Hay Mall. My office is located directly next to Perkins restaurant and Blue Pearl Pet Hospital.

I share an office space with three other therapists who run their own private practices. When you arrive, just have a seat in the waiting room and help yourself to water or coffee.

Yes, I do! I believe therapy must be accessible, and I offer telehealth sessions to anyone living in Iowa or Minnesota.

I even offer EMDR virtually, provided that you have a working computer.

To make telehealth therapy work smoothly, you’ll need a quiet, private space where you feel comfortable talking, a reliable internet connection, and a device with a camera and microphone (like a phone, tablet, or computer).

Grab some headphones if you want extra privacy, and make sure you're ready to log in on time. It’s also helpful to have an open mind and a willingness to engage in the process—just like in-person therapy!

Confidentiality is vital for therapy. Therapy is like “Emotional Vegas” - what happens in therapy, STAYS in therapy. That means that what we talk about stays between us.

There are a few exceptions to this rule, like if I believe you're at risk of harming yourself or others, if there’s suspected abuse of a child or dependent adult, or if I'm required to share information by law

(like in a court case).

Otherwise, your privacy is my priority, and I’ll only share information with your written consent. If you have any questions or concerns about confidentiality, let’s talk about them! It’s important you feel safe and informed.

To protect your confidentiality and privacy, if we ever run into each other "in the wild" I will not approach you or greet you - not because I don't enjoy our work together, it's just best practice. However, you are always welcome to say hi to me first - I try to keep the exchange brief with a smile and a wave, because professional and personal boundaries are important.

If for whatever reason we run into each other at a local event or social gathering, I will pretend I have never met you before, and I may quietly excuse myself. Des Moines IS small, and sometimes, dual-relationships are difficult to avoid. If at any time things are "too close for comfort" we will discuss it in session and try and figure out if I need to refer you out to someone else due to conflicts of interest.

I’m happy to consider writing letters for emotional support animals (ESAs), but I want to ensure the request is thoughtful and appropriate for your needs.

To do that, I require clients to work with me for at least six sessions before I can evaluate if an ESA letter is clinically appropriate.

This allows us to build a strong therapeutic relationship and gives me time to understand your situation fully.

It’s important that this process is thorough and rooted in genuine commitment to therapy. If you have any questions about this, feel free to ask!

Therapy is like having a GPS for your mind, and it works in three main steps:

1

Verbal processing:

We start by talking things out—your thoughts, feelings, and experiences. This helps you understand what's going on and how you got to where you are. Think of it as clearing up the fog to see the road ahead more clearly.

2

Using insights for change:

Once you've processed your experiences, you can start applying what you've learned. It’s like upgrading your mental toolkit so you can shift how you think, feel, or react in certain situations. This helps you steer through life with more confidence.

​

3

Building healthy coping skills:

Life is full of surprises, and therapy gives you practical strategies to navigate the ups and downs. It's like building your own resilience toolkit—complete with new skills that help you handle whatever comes your way.

For those who are working through trauma, EMDR is like a specialized route that can help you process those intense memories and move forward with more ease.

So, therapy isn’t just about talking; it’s about discovering, changing, and growing so you can live life more fully.

​

While I work hard in our sessions to support you, help you gain insights, and give you tools, the real transformation happens outside the therapy room. That’s where you apply what we’ve explored—whether it’s changing how you think, feel, or act, or learning to accept and make peace with the tough stuff.

I like to think of myself as a guide or facilitator, not a magician. I’m here to walk alongside you and help you uncover the growth and change that’s possible when you show up and do the work.

Together, we’ll create a space for healing, growth, and meaningful change.

Therapy is working if:

Life feels more stable and peaceful

You notice fewer

“What the hell just happened?!”

moments in life.

​

You pause before reacting

Kind of like a cat deciding if that laser pointer is really worth it.

​

Your relationships feel less like reality TV drama

and more like a well-rehearsed improv scene.

​

Your emotions and triggers feel more like waves to ride than tsunamis to survive.

You take your struggles in

stride, and not everything

feels like a crisis.

​

You're responding instead of reacting.

You catch yourself saying,

“Wow, past me would’ve lost it, but I handled that!”

​

Your brain’s inner critic sounds more like a quirky sidekick than a villain.

You notice you are able to challenge

your negative self talk more

easily and you can find compassion

for yourself.

​​

Life still has ups and downs, but you feel like you’ve got better hiking boots and a solid map.

You're managing and navigating

your day-to-day better and

with more ease.

​​

​

You're less stuck in the past.

Your mind isn't

constantly replaying painful memories like

an annoying song stuck in your head.

You can think about your experiences without them taking over your day or your mood.

​​

​​

​

You’re starting to feel safer.

Your sense of safety and trust is gradually growing. You might notice you’re more comfortable in your environment or more confident in handling unexpected situations.

​

​

You’re more in touch with your emotions.

Instead of feeling numb or disconnected, you’re able to identify and feel your emotions more clearly. This doesn’t mean everything is always easy, but you can name what you’re feeling and know what’s going on.

​

​

Your life feels fuller.

You’re able to do things that you used to avoid or didn’t think you could, like having conversations, trying new things, or connecting with people. You’re living more in the moment, not just surviving.

​​

​

​

If you’re feeling more connected, steady, and capable, therapy’s definitely pulling its weight!