Ashley Bendickson

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Texas. I hold a Master's Degree in Counseling Psychology from the University of Houston and have been providing counseling services since 2017 in both private practice and university settings.

I work with individuals (18+) and couples to create an open and safe environment where thoughts and feelings can be shared without fear of judgment.

Prior to the formation of Next Summit Counseling, I spent 10 years working for a large nonprofit. Many of those years were spent in upper-level management developing leaders and teams. I believe that when one individual experiences personal transformation, it influences everyone around them. I am passionate about helping individuals cultivate their emotional intelligence and personal effectiveness, as this results in healthy and whole-hearted families, teams, workplaces, and communities.

I am experienced in treating a variety of concerns, including depression, anxiety, family and relationship problems, sexuality, coping with life change, nutrition, compassion fatigue, exploring spiritual/religious concerns, cultivating emotional maturity, leadership and career development, communication, assertiveness, and boundary setting. I have notable experience providing support to LGBTQ individuals.

I've often been told that I have an unparalleled ability to hold space for complexity. Life can be complicated. A conflict or misalignment between an individual's beliefs, values, feelings, behavior, or relationship can cause great personal pain and distress. I am able to sit with you in the incongruence and help you explore deeply, cope well, and move toward alignment.

I take a holistic, integrative approach and empower my clients to reach their goals by helping them to explore beneath the surface, develop new skills, and gain confidence for their journey.

In the first session, I want to get to know you. I hope to hear what has led you to counseling at this time, as well as gather information regarding your background, general health, mood, family, relationships, career, and interests. Then we will work together to synthesize goals and develop a treatment plan.