Ashley Graves
My name is Ashley Graves, and I have worked in the field of mental health for over 30 years. I completed my undergraduate degree in Psychology from High Point University in North Carolina, and later completed my Master's degree at Delta State University in Cleveland, MS. I have had the fortune to have worked in a variety of positions throughout my career such as a private practioner, in-house therapist at Yellowstone County Detention facility as a part of a grant through the bureau of justice aimed at redicing recidivism rates umong inmates with a diagnosed mental illness. I have also worked at a Mobile Crisis Response Team Therapist for the state of Mississippi. I am also a trained clinical hypnotherapist which I often utilize when working with my specialty populations, crisis and trauma. I have done extensive work with our military post deployment. My ideal client is one who commits to therapy and is willing to allow me to help them learn how to face their issues and resolve them. I believe strongly in honesty, even if it means telling someone things difficult to hear. We must have honesty in order for me to help them help themselves. I am a very open and direct person and I have found that to be a great assett when working with my specialty populations. I also believe strongly that there are many alternative treatment modalities that can be quite effective for treating certain diagnoses/issues. I want every client I see to leave therapy feeling as if they are a better version of themselves and enjoy their life. I tell my clients that my job is to work myself out of a job. There is a quote from C.S. Lewis that I feel describes my therapeutic perspective. "Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny..." - C. S. Lewis It is my sincere hope that my client's leave from our therapy sessions feeling better than when they arrived. I often remind my clients that although sometimes, the work we have to do in therapy can be very difficult, but that my goal is for each of my clients to leave my office feeling a sense of accomplishment and pride in themselves.