Meet Ashley Hamm, LPC (she/her)

Before I was a counselor, I worked as a stage manager for theater. My interest in the arts sprouted from my love for the deep questions that artists ask about what makes life meaningful, so moving into a counseling career felt like the perfect way to bring these questions to life in order to make a difference in people’s lives.

When I started my counseling practice in 2018 after several years of working in a variety of mental health settings, I knew I wanted to focus on anxiety. I have navigated my own struggles with anxiety, and I recognize that many of us need a little guidance to challenge our anxious thoughts, build more forgiveness for imperfections, and learn to say no when we are at our capacity.

I also realized that I was drawn to people’s stories that centered around making sense of the systems and structures that impact our lives. For some people, this involves deconstructing the restrictive religious beliefs that they were raised in. For others, this entails building more resilience to face the stresses of the coming climate crisis. These topics are deeply personal to me, as I have spent time deconstructing the religious beliefs I was raised in, and have often found myself reflecting on how to navigate my own climate grief and overwhelm.

What ties my work together is a focus on self-acceptance. When we are kind and accepting towards our inner distress, we build resilience to face stressful circumstances, compassion and courage to face unjust systems, and the freedom to choose a meaningful path forward based on our own personally chosen values.