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Accepting new clients for in-person in Mt. Airy, NC & Telehealth in North Carolina

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Ashley Hamby, MA, LCMHC, NCC

Master's Degree from Wake Forest University 
Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor in North Carolina
Nationally Certified Counselor

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Get To Know Me

Ashley Hamby
MA, LCMHC, NCC

Get to Know Me

Get to know me, Ashley Hamby, the Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor in North Carolina who is providing trauma-informed therapy for children, teens, young adults, and women navigating anxiety, overwhelm, ADHD, life transitions, and healing from difficult experiences.

Little Ashley wants you to know...

  • Winnie the Pooh… the Hundred Acre Wood were my besties.

  • Barbie dream house + convertible = peak life moment (thank you, Santa)

  • Lived exclusively in oversized soccer t-shirts and Umbro shorts… fashion icon

  • Regularly dressed the family cat in baby clothes and pushed him around in a stroller… he tolerated it (RIP MoonPie)

  • Favorite movies on repeat: Robin Hood (the original cartoon… obviously) and Aladdin

Adult Ashley wants you to know...

  • Will absolutely read “one more chapter” and then suddenly it’s way past bedtime

  • Dog rescuer at heart… at one point, our house had four dogs and zero regrets

  • Has never met a pen, notebook, or sticky note she didn’t feel the need to bring home

  • Favorite Pixar lineup: Monsters Inc., Coco, Up… and yes, Inside Out hits a little too close sometimes

  • Go-to reset buttons: taking the dog for a walk… or a spontaneous 30-second dance party in the kitchen

Why I Do
This Work

I became a therapist not just through education, but through lived experience. As a neurodivergent therapist and former college athlete, I understand how exhausting it can feel to constantly push through stress, overthinking, pressure, and mental overwhelm while appearing “fine” on the outside. I know what it means to carry pain, feel uncertain about the future, and step courageously into a space hoping to be understood.

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My own journey through therapy is what led me here. I’ve sat in the client seat, and I know how transformative it can be to feel seen, supported, and genuinely cared for. That experience ignited my passion for helping adult women and young adults better understand themselves, process difficult experiences, and feel more grounded, connected, and emotionally supported.

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While our sessions will always be centered on you and your story, I want you to know that I bring not only professional training, but genuine empathy, curiosity, and hard-won hope into the therapy room.

 

This work is more than a career to me — it’s rooted in compassion, authenticity, and a deep belief in every person’s ability to grow, heal, and reconnect with themselves.

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EMDR is Evidence based, developmentally appropriate therapy tailored to the unique needs of children, teens, and adult women.

I had the pleasure of working with Ashley as her supervisor and was consistently inspired by her creativity, commitment to her clients, and genuine love of learning. She is a deeply caring and insightful clinician whose thoughtfulness and dedication show up in every aspect of her work.

Paige Bentley, Ph,D., LCMHCS, ACC, SEP, RYT

EMDR Certified Clinician

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Experience & Training Matter

I have over 6+ Years of Counseling Experience...

  • I am EMDR-Trained, Play Therapy Trained, DBT Trained, Trauma-Informed Therapist

  • I've supported children, adolescents, and adults through assessment, diagnosis, and therapy in a variety of settings, including:​​

    • Schools

    • Day treatment programs

    • Community mental health

    • Appeared in Court as Trauma Specialist 

    • Outpatient services

  • I've walked with clients navigating trauma, PTSD, anxiety, depression, ADHD, personality disorders, dissociation, and substance use. Each experience has strengthened my belief in every person's capacity for healing and growth.​

  • I participate in ongoing learning, training, and consultations with a Certified EMDR Consultant and Registered Play Therapy Supervisor to continue deepening my skills and providing high-quality care.

Specialized Training

I have pursued additional training in areas including:

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During challenging and uncertain times, Ashley is the light your child needs to find their way.  Her dedication to finding the most effective strategies for helping your child is unparalleled.  Therapy with Ashley is fun because she truly cares for her clients and makes the therapeutic process engaging and meaningful.   

Heather Hale, LCMHC-S, RPT-S

Approved EMDRIA Consultant

Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Supervisor

Registered Play Therapist Supervisor

Healing Should Fit the Person… Not the Other Way Around

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I chose to specialize in both EMDR Therapy and Play Therapy because healing does not look the same for every person, and therapy should be flexible enough to meet people where they are.

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Both EMDR Therapy and Play Therapy are evidence based approaches that support healing in developmentally appropriate, relational, and nervous system informed ways. While Play Therapy is most commonly associated with children, the creativity, emotional expression, and relational understanding behind it can benefit people across the lifespan… including teens and adult women.

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My training allows me to adapt therapy to the individual sitting in front of me, rather than expecting clients to fit into one rigid approach. Some children communicate best through play, art, movement, storytelling, or sand tray work. Some teens need a balance of creativity and direct conversation. Many adult women benefit from expressive, visual, and body aware approaches that go beyond simply “talking about it.”

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I believe learning how to support children through expressive and developmentally sensitive therapy has made me a more adaptable and attuned therapist for adults as well. It deepened my understanding of how trauma, stress, attachment, and nervous system responses can show up differently depending on a person’s age, experiences, personality, and environment.

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I am trained in both EMDR Therapy and Play Therapy, and I am currently working toward full certification in both specialties, with anticipated completion in mid 2026. Ongoing education and specialized training matter because they help ensure I am providing thoughtful, ethical, and effective care grounded in current research and best practices.

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EMDR Therapy is also personal to me. I would not choose to specialize in an approach I did not believe in. Having experienced EMDR as a client myself, I have seen firsthand how healing and transformative the process can be. That experience continues to shape the way I approach therapy… with humility, compassion, respect for pacing, and hope that meaningful healing is possible.

Why I choose EMDR + Play Therapy

EMDR is an evidence based, developmentally appropriate therapy tailored to the unique needs of children, teens, and adult women.

Evidence based, developmentally appropriate therapy tailored to the unique needs of children, teens, and adult women.

Why I choose EMDR + Play Therapy

Healing Should Fit the Person… Not the Other Way Around

​

I chose to specialize in both EMDR Therapy and Play Therapy because healing does not look the same for every person, and therapy should be flexible enough to meet people where they are.

​

Both EMDR Therapy and Play Therapy are evidence based approaches that support healing in developmentally appropriate, relational, and nervous system informed ways. While Play Therapy is most commonly associated with children, the creativity, emotional expression, and relational understanding behind it can benefit people across the lifespan… including teens and adult women.

​

My training allows me to adapt therapy to the individual sitting in front of me, rather than expecting clients to fit into one rigid approach. Some children communicate best through play, art, movement, storytelling, or sand tray work. Some teens need a balance of creativity and direct conversation. Many adult women benefit from expressive, visual, and body aware approaches that go beyond simply “talking about it.”

​

I believe learning how to support children through expressive and developmentally sensitive therapy has made me a more adaptable and attuned therapist for adults as well. It deepened my understanding of how trauma, stress, attachment, and nervous system responses can show up differently depending on a person’s age, experiences, personality, and environment.

​

I am trained in both EMDR Therapy and Play Therapy, and I am currently working toward full certification in both specialties, with anticipated completion in mid 2026. Ongoing education and specialized training matter because they help ensure I am providing thoughtful, ethical, and effective care grounded in current research and best practices.

​

EMDR Therapy is also personal to me. I would not choose to specialize in an approach I did not believe in. Having experienced EMDR as a client myself, I have seen firsthand how healing and transformative the process can be. That experience continues to shape the way I approach therapy… with humility, compassion, respect for pacing, and hope that meaningful healing is possible.

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Women

Many of the women I work with come in already carrying a diagnosis… or with a long history of trying to understand what’s been going on beneath the surface.

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I frequently support adults who have been diagnosed with:

  • PTSD or Complex PTSD

  • Depression, anxiety, or other mood-related concerns

  • ADHD or long-standing attention and focus difficulties (often newly recognized in adulthood)

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Sometimes, though, what brings someone in isn’t a diagnosis… it’s a pattern, a feeling, or a story that hasn’t had space to be understood yet.

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I often work with women who are experiencing:​

  • Feeling like past experiences were misunderstood or labeled incorrectly

  • Panic attacks or intense anxiety, especially in work settings

  • Difficulty maintaining jobs due to stress or emotional overwhelm

  • Challenges in romantic relationships, including trust, safety, or emotional closeness

  • Strained or complicated relationships with a parent

  • Lingering effects of religious trauma, including shame, fear, or feeling disconnected from faith

  • The impact of a single overwhelming event (such as a car accident or sudden loss)

  • The effects of ongoing emotional, verbal, or sexual abuse

  • Sharing trauma for the first time, sometimes years later

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Parents

Children don’t always have the words to explain what they’ve been through… so it often shows up through behavior, emotions, and play.

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I frequently work with children who may have diagnoses such as:

  • Anxiety

  • ADHD or attention-related concerns

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And many children I see are struggling with:

  • Big emotions that feel hard to manage or come out in intense outbursts

  • Difficulty following rules or directions, even when they know what’s expected

  • Strong reactions to limits, correction, or discipline

  • Seeming defiant, oppositional, or quick to say “no”… especially with parents or authority figures

  • Behavioral concerns at school or daycare

  • Experiences of abuse, whether within the family or by someone they trusted

  • The impact of a single traumatic event

  • Ongoing or repeated trauma over time

  • Involvement with CPS, foster care, or kinship placements

  • Adoption-related challenges and attachment difficulties

  • Grief and loss, including the death of a loved one

  • Sudden shifts in mood or behavior… where it feels like a different child from one moment to the next

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Values That Guide My Work

Compassion

At the heart of my work is compassion. Compassion is more than listening with kindness, it is responding with care to what feels heavy. Whether you’re an adult woman seeking trauma therapy or a parent looking for support for your child, you will be met with understanding and without judgment.

Knowledge & Truth

Healing is not just about feeling better, it’s about understanding yourself in new ways. I value being honest, clear, and grounded while also helping you or your child build practical skills, insight, and confidence.

Hope

Hope does not ignore pain, it holds space for it while believing that change is possible. On the days when hope feels far away, I will hold it for you until you are ready to carry it again.

 I want the women and children I work with to leave this space feeling heard, supported, and not alone, because you don’t have to walk this journey by yourself.

If you're wondering if this could be the right fit...

That's a really good place to begin. We can talk and see what feels right for you. 

Ashley Hamby Counseling, PLLC

Ashley Hamby Counseling provides trauma informed therapy for children, teens, and women in North Carolina. Services include EMDR therapy and Play Therapy for children and adolescents in Mount Airy and throughout Surry County, as well as virtual EMDR therapy statewide for women navigating anxiety, overwhelm, ADHD, trauma, relationship challenges, burnout, and life transitions including college, career, and early adulthood.

Ashley Hamby Counseling PLLC

1427 Edgewood Drive

Mt. Airy, NC 27030

In-Person or Online/Telehealth

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Phone: (336) 756-7258

Email: hello@ashleyhambycounseling.com

Fax: (336) 738-1435

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