Ashley Barkley , LPC

Ashley Barkley began her work in counseling and mental health in 2004, drawn to a helping profession by the positive influences she experienced in her own life. She is originally from Oklahoma and completed both undergraduate and graduate studies at the University of Oklahoma, earning a degree in psychology with a minor in philosophy in 2005 and a Master of Education with an emphasis in Community Counseling in 2009.

She is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), a state credential to practice as a professional counselor, and brings 13 years of clinical experience. Early in her career she focused on reunification for children and families who had been involved with the foster care system in Oklahoma. That work gave her familiarity with the court system and a strong commitment to helping families develop effective parenting strategies in challenging circumstances. In 2010 she moved into school counseling, which deepened her understanding of how children navigate group settings and the unique social and academic pressures young people face.

Ashley uses a holistic approach that considers physical, emotional, spiritual, and social well-being. Her primary focus includes children, teens, and families, and she works with a broad range of concerns such as relationship and family difficulties, trauma and abuse, parenting challenges, coping with life changes, stress, anxiety, grief, anger, self-esteem, depression, and ADHD. She also has additional focus areas in adoption and foster care, communication and family problems, self-harm, and young adult issues. Ashley practices in Texas and provides services in English.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Support

Ashley Barkley draws on client-centered therapy to create a respectful, empathetic space where a person’s own goals guide the work; this approach is especially helpful for building self-understanding, strengthening relationships, and supporting personal growth. She also uses cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful patterns of thinking and behavior to reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress and to develop practical coping skills. For clients affected by traumatic experiences, Ashley incorporates trauma-focused therapy techniques that prioritize safety, stabilization, and gradual processing so that trauma-related responses can be better understood and managed.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and Ashley collaborates with each person to determine which methods best fit their needs, goals, and preferences. She adapts strategies over time as progress is made and priorities shift.

Online therapy with Ashley is offered through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to provide flexibility and easier access to care. These options make it simpler to schedule appointments around work, school, or family responsibilities, and they help maintain continuity of support when in-person meetings are not feasible. Licensed professionals and therapists can tailor these formats to suit different communication styles and treatment goals, helping people engage in meaningful therapeutic work from wherever they are located.