Ashley Mead, LMHC

My Story

Prior to becoming a therapist, I worked in corporate marketing and advertising in the technology and financial services industries. A native of Michigan, I spent more than a decade chasing career opportunities around the country, living in cities across the South, Midwest, West and East Coasts – finally settling in Brooklyn where I live today with my husband and our young child.

So what brought me to a career in mental health?

Throughout my previous career, I found myself burning out, leading me to bound from one high-pressure environment after another in search of fulfillment that I was unable to reach. I know how difficult it can be to feel stuck and desire a big change while also fearing it. Through my own personal exploration I recognized the patterns I was engaging in and took steps to break the cycle. I learned that it's never too late to make a change, especially when it holds the possibility of a better future.

I took a big leap, enrolling in graduate school to follow my passion for helping others. These experiences illuminated the power of listening to your gut – signals that your intuition is telling you something important – and for me, it was that my values were not aligned with the work that took up so much of my life. Today, as a recovering people pleaser, I am still learning to set my own boundaries while working with my clients to meet their mental health and wellness goals through connection with their authentic self.

My areas of focus include anxiety, relationships, infertility and family planning, perinatal mental health, career and life transitions, and identity. As a mother I've found a passion in helping those struggling with infertility or undergoing reproductive such as IUI and IVF, along with those seeking egg, sperm and embryo donors, going through the adoption process and working with gestational surrogates. I have studied this field extensively, earning certifications in perinatal mental health and infertility, and am a strong advocate in supporting individuals, couples and families throughout these medical journeys.

My Approach

With relationships at the core of the human emotional experience, I believe connection is the foundation of our motivation. By building a strong therapeutic relationship, I strive to engage processes of self-exploration and discovery to increase self-esteem while promoting change. I work with clients through a holistic approach to examine all aspects of well-being in order to grow self-awareness, understand how past experiences impact the present, identify patterns in thinking, relationships and behavior that impact mental health, and develop coping strategies to manage stress, anxiety, and depression.

I am a values-based therapist and leverage the client's personal values to help with decision-making. Together we will work to uncover both your deep values and individual needs. I support the needs of adults, adolescents, and couples. I also have extensive experience with infertility and pre- and post-natal mental health for both men and women, along with supporting members of the LGBTQ+ community. My therapeutic approach is grounded in relational and psychodynamic perspectives, integrating techniques from a variety of psychological theories to build a strong interpersonal foundation that is the catalyst for change. I recognize how past experiences shape our present and future and impact everything from decision-making to identity, relationships, and self-esteem. I am inspired by the resiliency of the individual and am driven by a curiosity for the human condition.

Credentials & Education

Ashley has been featured in The New York Times, One Mosaic, and Carbon Health for her expertise in mental health counseling.