Ashley Cottle

Therapy doesn't have to feel clinical or intimidating. Some of the most meaningful breakthroughs happen when we can laugh at the absurdity of being human, or when a totally random metaphor makes an abstract feeling click into place. I bring a casual, conversational style to our work, because I want you to feel like you're talking with a real person, not reciting your problems to a textbook.

I'm a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker in New Hampshire with a Master's in Social Work from San Diego State University. Beyond outpatient therapy, I bring years of experience in emergency behavioral health, providing crisis intervention and psychiatric support in hospital emergency departments and the community. This work taught me a lot about meeting people in their hardest moments, and why building real trust and safety comes first.

Providing affirming care to those exploring their identity, including gender and sexuality, is both a clinical specialty and a deeply personal commitment of mine. I also work with the family members and partners of someone exploring their identity, helping them better understand and support their loved one. Additionally, I have specialized training in perinatal mental health and am passionate about working with parents at all stages, including providing support around the difficult, deeply personal decisions during pregnancy, without judgement. Beyond these areas, I regularly work with trauma, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorders, relationship and family conflict, communication and boundary setting, work stress, major life changes, and the unique experiences of neurodiverse individuals. Whatever you're navigating, my goal is to give you a space where you don't have to explain or justify yourself.

I like to describe therapy as sitting in the mud together, because the heavy stuff is heavy, and you shouldn't have to sit in it alone. My approach draws from person-centered, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Motivational Interviewing, Solution-Focused Therapy, strengths-based, and expressive arts interventions. But there's no one-size-fits-all here. I tailor treatment to fit you, not the other way around.

If you're looking for an empathetic, supportive therapist who wants to see all of you with no explanation required, I think we could be a good fit.