Q&A With Kirsten Ashey
How long have you been practicing?
I am about to finish my third year of practicing. I graduated from the George Washington University Art Therapy Program in 2020, and have been practicing ever since.
What licenses and certifications do you have?
I am currently in the process of obtaining my LPC and my ATR and will hopefully have both of those in less than a year. In the meantime I am grateful for incredible supervisors who have helped shape and guide me as a new Art Therapist.
What are your areas of specialty?
I have been working specifically with children and teens for almost ten years in a variety of settings. Working with them in a private practice setting is new for me, but I have worked with kids and teens in both ministry and school settings. I specifically work with children with ADHD, Autism, and Anxiety.
What are your strengths and limitations as a counselor?
I believe my strengths as a counselor center around my ability to have both empathy and perspective. I love stepping into a client’s shoes and learning how they see the world. Working with kids makes that an especially magical process, that teaches me about how we can see life in both its honest joys and struggles. At the same time, bringing in truth and perspective into another’s experience is a powerful tool to foster agency and growth in someone’s life. I am always learning more ways I can grow and develop as a therapist. It is an ever evolving field! I am a total people person, so the administrative side of being a therapist is a challenge for me.
What is your general philosophy and approach to helping? Are you more directive or more guiding?
I believe that helping requires both clear direction and flexibility. I had a professor who said “structure=freedom”. Especially when working with kids, I try to establish structure and direction so that they feel safe enough to explore. When a therapist can hold the space for a client, they then can focus their energy on reflecting, creating, and growing.
How often do you seek peer consultation?
Peer consultation is so incredibly valuable in this field. I am looking forward to participating in peer supervision at Sage House. The women who work here truly have a wealth of knowledge and experience that impacts the practice as a whole. Peer supervision with other art therapists is especially fruitful because the creativity of each individual is life-giving and exciting.
How do you create a safe and trusting environment for your clients?
When I think of safety I think of clarity, consistency, and compassion. Communicating with clarity and honesty can decrease fear or anxiety because it decreases confusion and ushers in truth. Consistency in communication, expectations, and routines lays the groundwork for building trust and dependency. Compassion is what holds these things together, and lets clients know that they not only can be safe but can be seen, known, and encouraged.
