About Me
Ashley Atkins, LCSW
About Me
My world is my son, husband, a growing herd of rescued animals, and a family I genuinely couldn't survive without. I've spent much of my life volunteering everywhere from homeless shelters to missions in Mexico, and have always been someone who acts. When the world lets people down, I show up and fight for what's right.
I'm not a therapist who has it all figured out. I've been through my own stuff — trauma, loss, and things I wouldn't wish on anyone. I know what it's like to live with a brain and a body that don't always cooperate. I may not always look it, but I feel everything deeply.
I became a therapist because I know what it feels like when the people and systems that were supposed to show up for you don't. I wanted to be the person who actually does — someone who genuinely stands in your corner through the hard stuff, the messy stuff, and everything in between.
My Roots
My story is layered. Japanese heritage and deep Montana roots going back to 1903. My Obachan came to this country as an immigrant, and that history is a core part of who I am. I've lived in small towns and suburbs, and worked in cities like Seattle, carrying very different cultural identities my whole life. That's taught me what it means to not always fit neatly into the space around you. It's shaped how I see people, hold space, and show up. Whoever you are, wherever you come from — there's a place for you here.
No Filter Required
You don't have to have it together to be here. That's kind of the point. Whatever state you show up in — guarded, overwhelmed, not sure what you're even feeling yet — you can vent, cry, swear, joke, or finally say the thing you've never felt safe saying out loud.
We move at your pace. Some people want to ease in; others are ready to jump straight into the hard stuff. Both are fine.
The trust we build isn't just a nice bonus — research shows it's actually the single strongest predictor of whether therapy works. So we take that seriously. If something I say doesn't sit right, tell me. Not every session will feel good — some will be hard, some messy, some you'll leave feeling lighter than you have in years. I'm here through all of it, whether we're laughing or sitting in the hard stuff together.
For the Little Ones & the In-Betweens
Choosing a therapist for your child is a big decision, and I don't take that trust lightly. I bring the same principles I bring to all my work — connection, honesty, and a space where kids feel safe — but we get there through a variety of ways including play, games, and creativity, because that's how kids make sense of the world. The goal is simple: a space where your child actually wants to show up.