About

Welcome to my practice! I am really looking forward to getting to know you and our work together. My name is Ashley Waltrip, and I am a licensed clinical psychologist in the state of Virginia. Additionally, I am a Registered Play Therapist (RPT). I provide services to children (ages 3+), adolescents, and adults. My training has been in a broad range of approaches, including lifespan, developmental, client-centered, cognitive-behavioral, interpersonal, psychodynamic, and family systems. My approach with my clients is to individualize treatment in order to accommodate their specific needs and presenting concerns. My work with adults typically focuses on issues of anxiety, stress, depression, family conflict, marital problems, personality disorders, difficulties related to unresolved grief, and traumatic experiences. When working with children and adolescents, concerns commonly presented include behavioral and emotional challenges, social skill deficits, attention deficits, traumatic experiences, autism spectrum disorders, self-esteem, anxiety, and identity development.

Psychotherapy is not easily described in general statements. It varies depending on the personalities of the therapist and the client, as well as particular areas in life that the client wishes to address. There are a number of different approaches that can be utilized to address various presenting concerns. For the most successful outcome, the focus of the treatment (challenges addressed in treatment) will need to be worked on at home beyond just the one-hour therapy session. In the case of children and adolescents, parents often need to makes changes in their own behaviors in order to help their children to change and grow.

Psychotherapy has both benefits and risks. Risks sometimes include experiencing uncomfortable levels of feelings like sadness, anger, or anxiety. Therapy can often involve talking about unpleasant aspects of a person’s history and behavior. Potential benefits of psychotherapy often include a significant reduction in feelings of distress and better relationships and problem solving, but there are not guarantees. I cannot promise that your and/or your child’s behavior or circumstance will change. I can promise to support you and/or your child and do my very best to understand my clients and repeating patterns, as well as to help you and/or your child clarify what it is that you/they want for yourself/their self.

My normal practice is for the first couple of sessions to be focused on understanding what brought you into my office and how I can guide you to achieve your treatment goals. During this time, I will be learning information about you and, in consultation with you, I will be outlining a treatment plan. Please feel free to ask questions, because you should also be evaluating how comfortable you are with the directive we are taking.

Education, Training, and License

I have been involved in the field of psychology for the past 10+ years and am a licensed clinical psychologist in the state of Virginia. Some of my training includes:

• Master’s Degree and Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, Regent University, Virginia Beach, VA

• Pre-Doctoral Internship in Child and Adolescent Psychology, Manatee Glens Consortium, Bradenton, FL

• Registered Play Therapist

• Individual and Group Outpatient Services

• Adult and Child Psychological Assessment