Ashley Brooks (she/her), MS, PLPC

Attuned | Accepting | Experienial

Schedule with Ashley

Meet Ashley Brooks, MS, PLPC

I see clients in person and online!

Hey there! I’m Ashley, and around here, I’m often known as the "homegirl therapist."

What does that mean for you? It means that who I am with my friends and family is exactly who shows up in the therapy room with you. You get a real, unfiltered human being who provides a safe, completely judgment-free space where you can let your guard down. But because I'm a friend who went to school for mental health, I’m also going to hold you lovingly accountable to the growth and goals you want for yourself. I’m an open book—I believe that by showing up as my most authentic self, I create the space for you to safely do the exact same.

Schedule with Ashley

Who Ashley Works Best With

"I am firmly client-centered. Every single person gets exactly what they need, tailored specifically to who they are."

Who I Coordinate Best With: Young adults (35 and under), Black women seeking cultural alignment, LGBTQ+/queer individuals, and individuals or couples exploring non-traditional relationship dynamics.

You may be a good fit for working with Ashley if you:

Want to understand how your past influences your present
Are curious about reconnecting with parts of yourself — including your inner child
Prefer a therapist who is flexible, warm, and collaborative
Feel disconnected from rigid or overly clinical therapy models
Are open to therapy that evolves as you do

Areas of Focus

Ashley enjoys working with clients, navigating:

Emotional expression and regulation
Identity exploration and self-understanding
The impact of childhood experiences on adult life
Clients seeking a more creative, non-traditional therapy experience
Relationship and couples concerns

Learning to Prioritize You

The most common theme I see across my caseload is a beautiful, heavy truth: so many of us simply do not know how to prioritize ourselves. It shows up differently for everyone, but it usually sounds like a whisper of shame, a lack of boundaries, or a constant habit of running on empty because you don’t know how to practice real self-care.

I love helping clients walk through:

Building Internal Validation: Shifting away from heavily relying on others to fulfill you, and learning how to give that validation to yourself.
Breaking Codependency: Navigating the uncomfortable, lonely, and yet deeply exciting transition of learning how to be alone and independent.
Maneuvering Life Transitions: Getting comfortable in your own skin (and your own space) during massive life shifts, like moving into your first solo apartment, a career change, a serious breakup, or the death of a parent.

Inclusive Couples Therapy & Modern Relationships

Relationships are rarely traditional these days, and I absolutely love that. Using the framework of the Gottman Method, I help couples cultivate deeper alignment, stronger communication, and healthier intimacy.

I am passionate about providing a celebratory space for all relationship structures, including:

Non-Traditional & Queer Dynamics: Supporting LGBTQ+ couples, age-gap relationships, and partners navigating ethical non-monogamy (ENM) or polyamory.
Identity & Gender Fluidity: Guiding couples as one or both partners navigate gender fluidity and evolution within their relationship.
Conscious Uncoupling: Helping partners who have decided to separate do so in a way that is healthy, deeply respectful, and loving.

The Intersection of Faith and Queer Identity

As a therapist who proudly identifies as both queer and Christian, I know firsthand how messy it can feel to navigate spaces that tell you those pieces of your identity can't coexist. I firmly believe that one does not cancel out the other.

Whether you are straight or queer, if you want to bring faith-based themes, spiritual exploration, or religious trauma into the room, that door is always open for us to walk through together.

Empowered Parent Coaching

Having spent years working extensively with kids, teenagers, and families, I know that parenting is one of the hardest jobs on the planet. I work with parents—particularly those raising teenagers—to shift away from strictly punitive discipline and move toward active connection. Your teen’s voice matters, and their behavior is usually trying to tell you something. I'm here to offer fresh perspectives and tangible resources so you can parent from a place of confidence and understanding.

Ashley’s Story

Ashley’s path to becoming a therapist was shaped by curiosity, exploration, and hands-on experience. Growing up, she moved frequently throughout Kansas City, an experience that helped her become highly adaptable and deeply attuned to the people and environments around her. That early exposure to change sparked a lifelong interest in understanding how experiences, especially early ones, shape who we become.

For undergraduate studies, Ashley moved to Texas, where she attended Prairie View A&M University. Wanting new experiences and perspectives, she intentionally chose to study away from home. After graduating during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ashley returned to Kansas City, where she began working in residential and short-term psychiatric settings with children and adolescents.

It was there that she discovered her passion for mental health work. Supporting youth navigating crisis, suicidality, and emotional overwhelm — and participating in psychoeducational groups and clinical team meetings — solidified her desire to become a therapist. Ashley found herself wanting to be more directly involved in helping clients understand their inner worlds and create meaningful change.

Ashley completed her master’s degree in counseling after beginning her graduate education at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology and later transitioning to an in-person program at Avila University, where she recently completed her degree.

Ashley’s Approach to Therapy

Ashley takes an eclectic, integrative approach to therapy, pulling from a variety of evidence-based modalities and tailoring her work to each client’s unique needs. Rather than believing there is a single “right” way to do therapy, Ashley values flexibility, creativity, and collaboration.

She believes therapy doesn’t always have to look the same — and that meaningful healing can happen when clients feel free to explore, express, and show up as their full selves. Ashley works to create a space that feels safe, affirming, and grounded in curiosity, where clients are invited to slow down, reflect, and reconnect with parts of themselves that may have been overlooked or silenced.

Modalities I Use: Person-Centered Therapy, Gottman Method for Couples, Parts Work/Internal Family Systems (IFS), DBT Skills (Radical Acceptance), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and integrated Somatic practices.

Outside the Therapy Room

Outside of work, Ashley is an avid reader who loves psychological thrillers and memoirs — especially stories that explore growth, resilience, and identity. She values self-expression and creativity, whether that shows up through fashion, changing hairstyles, or thoughtfully curated outfits that reflect her mood and personality.

Ashley enjoys trying new experiences, from escape rooms and rage rooms to traveling and exploring new cities. She’s a self-proclaimed foodie with a love for Chipotle, seafood boils, and Jamaican food, and she treasures time spent with family. Ashley is especially close with her mother and siblings and values the strong relationships that ground her life.

She also shares her home with her partner, Jordyn, and their beloved puppy, Drake.

Session Fee & Sliding Scale

My standard fee is $125 per session for individuals, $150 for couples, and $200 for families.

I’m committed to making therapy accessible—and I offer a limited number of sliding scale spots based on financial need.

If the full fee feels out of reach, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the office to inquire about sliding scale eligibility. You deserve support, and we’ll do our best to help make that possible.