Ashley GrayLCSW

I like to build a trusting relationship in therapy, as every good therapist does. I also like to get to work as soon as you are comfortable. We will look at the difficult parts of your situation and consider hard truths, yet we will not go faster than you are comfortable with. As we face these things, we will be looking at how to build knowledge and skills that will translate outside of session, so that you can meet your goals and "graduate" from therapy if that is what you desire. In being both a social worker and having training in Marriage and Family Therapy, I like to look at the person in their environment. What is very much a part of that environment are oppressive systems. Social justice is a consideration in the work we do together at times. Throughout this process, I am validating my clients experiences and emotions and encouraging my clients to extend grace to themselves.

I have noticed when working with clients, that their attachment styles impact how they relate to themselves and to others. It can help answer questions like, "Why am I so cruel when we fight?" "Why don't they text me back?" "I thought we were in a good place, what happened!?" Attachment, in its most simple terms, is how we behave in relationships based on our past experiences with caregivers and/or past romantic or otherwise significant relationships. This can be “The Why” behind our behaviors in a relationship. A person's attachment can be predominantly secure, anxious, avoidant or disorganized. Knowing this information about ourselves can be like discovering the blueprint to your relationships. I like to explore my clients' attachment styles with them to help them better understand the behaviors with others and others behaviors towards them.

I am, at my core, a psych nerd. I love learning how people work and giving that information back to people in a way that they can actually apply to reach their goals. While I love processing feelings, I also want my clients to know how to create a better experience for themselves by practicing skills and tools that work for them outside of session. I genuinely love people, so I get excited, sad and frustrated with my clients, yet still step back and look at the situation from that objective psych lens that is needed to problem-solve. I also believe that humor is important in any journey and therapy is no exception. I like to laugh with my clients when appropriate, so I might make a joke or mention an applicable meme or show.

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with training in Marriage and Family Therapy from Denver Family Institute. I have been working in mental health since 2011, working with adult individuals and couples in therapy since 2015 and have been in private practice since 2018. I support clients in connecting with themselves and others using attachment and systems theories, meaning that, I work with your relationships and environment in mind. I support my clients with knowledge and tools and evidenced based skills that they can start using right away. I engage my clients in skills, in session, that they will use outside of session to manage their presenting concerns.

7878 W. 80th Place, Ste 1G, Arvada, 80005, CO