Ashley Shipman, MA, LCPC, LPC
Trauma-Informed counselor for women, couples, and families in St. Louis
AboutMe
I am passionate about helping people discover their voice, deepen their self-understanding, and develop a stronger, more confident sense of self. I believe that meaningful change begins with feeling truly seen, understood, and accepted. Through a family systems lens, I work with individuals, couples, and families to recognize the patterns that shape their relationships so they can foster healthier connections, strengthen communication, and navigate life’s challenges with greater confidence.
I specialize in supporting women as they move through transitions and the unique experiences of their lives. I have a particular interest in working with women navigating high-functioning anxiety, high-achieving professionals who may feel overwhelmed beneath the surface, and mothers seeking to rediscover their sense of purpose and identity beyond motherhood. As an EMDR-trained clinician, I support clients in safely organizing and processing traumatic experiences, drawing on evidence-based techniques to foster healing and resilience.
My Counseling Approach
I blend deep therapeutic work with psychoeducation, helping clients understand how attachment, family dynamics, trauma, and the nervous system influence their thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and relationships. By combining meaningful insight with practical strategies, I help clients develop a deeper understanding of themselves while gaining the tools they can immediately begin applying in everyday life.
My therapeutic approach is trauma-informed and grounded in attachment theory, with a holistic focus that integrates emotional, physiological, spiritual, and cognitive well-being. Together, we explore relational patterns, determine appropriate boundaries, and discover how past trauma shows up in present-day moments. At the heart of my work is a compassionate, collaborative space where clients can better understand their stories, make sense of the patterns that have shaped them, and move toward a more authentic and fulfilling life.
What Led Me to Counseling
Before I became a counselor, I worked as a Special Education teacher for 12 years in Missouri and Kansas public schools. During that time, I focused on supporting students’ academic progress, though I often saw how mental health challenges and family dynamics affected students’ ability to succeed.
My Counseling Journey
After earning my Master of Arts in Counseling from a CACREP-accredited program in the Kansas City area, I spent five years working in a community mental health center, where I gained valuable experience with diverse and complex cases. Since 2025, I have been working in the private practice setting.
Licensure, Certification, & Professional Associations
Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC)
Kansas #03770
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
Missouri #2020030349
National Certified Counselor (NCC)
#1404435
American Counseling Association
Since I am licensed in both Kansas and Missouri, I see clients for in-person sessions located in the St. Louis area. I also see clients virtually across the states of Missouri and Kansas.
Specialized Training
Eye Movement Desensitization and
Reprocessing (EMDR), level 1 and level 2
Emotionally Focused Therapy, Externship expected completion 2026
Internal Family Systems (IFS), level 1 expected completion 2027
SYMBIS & Prepare/Enrich facilitator (premarital counseling)
Set up a free consultation.
Additional Areas of Knowledge
The Gottman Method
Attachment Theory
Polyvagal Theory
Family Systems
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Dialectical Behavior Therapy
Faith integration
