Ashley Barkley , LPC

Ashley Barkley began pursuing counseling and mental health work in 2004, motivated by a lifelong interest in connecting with and supporting people. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Philosophy from the University of Oklahoma in 2005 and completed a Master of Education focused on Community Counseling in 2009 from the same university. Over the course of her career she has focused on children, teens, and families while also working with a wider range of clients on issues such as relationships, trauma and abuse, parenting challenges, anxiety, depression, and stress.

Ashley launched her clinical work supporting reunification for children and families involved in the foster care system in Oklahoma, gaining hands-on experience with family dynamics and the court processes that affect child welfare. In 2010 she transitioned into school counseling, which deepened her understanding of the social and academic pressures young people face within group settings. Teens remain a favored population for her work due to the unique developmental balance they present between childhood and adulthood.

She practices as an LPC - a Licensed Professional Counselor - and brings 13 years of professional experience to her therapeutic work. Ashley uses a holistic perspective that considers physical, emotional, spiritual, and social well-being, and she integrates multiple approaches to help families and individuals build practical skills, improve communication, and navigate life’s transitions.

Therapeutic approaches and online support

Ashley commonly draws on Client-Centered Therapy, which emphasizes a respectful, nonjudgmental relationship in which the client’s perspective guides the work; this approach is useful for improving self-esteem, communication, and general emotional coping. She also uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), a practical method that helps clients identify and shift unhelpful thought and behavior patterns to reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress. When addressing complex experiences such as trauma and abuse, Ashley integrates Trauma-Focused Therapy techniques to attend to past harms and help clients develop safety, stabilization, and coping strategies.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Ashley collaborates with each person to assess needs, goals, and preferences, and she will help determine which methods or combination of methods are the best fit for the work they want to do.

Online therapy offers flexible ways to connect, including video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. These options make it easier to access consistent support from a licensed professional while accommodating busy schedules, caregiving responsibilities, and geographic constraints, all while preserving the therapeutic focus on progress and practical skill building.