Ashley Pawling, LCSW — Therapist in California

Hi there, I'm Ashley!

I help children discover that they are stronger, braver, and more capable than they think. I create a safe and supportive space where kids can openly explore their feelings, build confidence, and learn healthy ways to handle life’s ups and downs. My goal is for every child to feel heard, empowered, and ready to take on the world one step at a time.

My focus

We’ll work together in a safe, supportive space to gently explore your current feelings, including anxiety, depression, and the impact of past experiences or trauma. The goal is to help you better understand what you’re going through, make sense of your emotions, and build practical ways to feel more grounded, supported, and in control.

My approach

I help children feel safe, understood, and confident with big feelings and tough experiences. Using a solution-focused approach, I build on strengths and what’s working to create meaningful change. I also use TF-CBT to help children process difficult experiences and build coping skills so they can heal and thrive.

My communication style

I talk with kids in a warm, friendly, and easy-to-understand way so they feel comfortable opening up. My style is playful, open, and never judgmental—kids can share their thoughts and feelings at their own pace while feeling safe, heard, and supported.

My journey to mental healthcare

My journey began working with children in the foster care system, where I gained a deeper understanding of the challenges they face. That experience strengthened my passion for helping children navigate life’s difficulties—especially those outside of their control—while building resilience, confidence, and hope.

My goals for you

I take a collaborative, supportive approach to setting goals—we’ll work together to explore what’s currently challenging and what areas feel most important to focus on. Along the way, we’ll also identify strengths and what’s already going well, so your goals feel realistic, meaningful, and built on a solid foundation.

Our first session

The first session will be a warm, relaxed time to get to know each other and start building a strong therapeutic relationship. It’s completely normal to feel nervous at first, and we’ll go at a pace that feels comfortable. We’ll focus on having fun, building trust, and helping your child feel safe, supported, and understood.

I identify as...

Female
Biracial or Multiracial
Christian

Expertise

Treatment approaches

Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)

Parent-Child Interaction (PCIT)

Play Therapy

Art Therapy

Attachment-based

Child/Parent Psychotherapy

Mindfulness-Based

Motivational Interviewing

Psychodynamic

Solution Focused Brief (SFBT)

Trauma Focused

+ 11 more

Therapy types

Individual Therapy
Family Therapy

Ages served

Children
Minors
Preteens
Adults

Practice

Accepted insurance providers

Aetna
Allegiance
Allied
Arlo
Ascension-SmartHealth

+ 17 more

Languages spoken

English

Education

Master of Science in Social Work (MSSW) Child Welfare from California State University, Fullerton.

Sessions

60 minutes

Virtual sessions

Ashley Pawling