Ashley Hutchens, LICSW, LCSW

Ashley Hutchens is a licensed social worker who helps people manage stress, anxiety, depression, grief, relationship struggles, and caregiving stress. She brings seven years of community mental health experience to sessions and focuses on practical ways to improve daily life. Ashley holds a LICSW (Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker) and an LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) and practices in West Virginia.

Her approach is straightforward and task-focused. She uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to link thoughts, behaviors, and mood. She also draws on Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills, mindfulness practices, motivational interviewing, and relationship work influenced by the Gottman Method. Sessions aim to build skills people can use between appointments.

Ashley listens for small shifts that add up over time. She helps people tell their story and, when needed, work through traumatic memories at a pace they choose. She also supports those facing caregiving burdens, chronic illness, aging-related concerns, and struggles with substance use or eating and sleep problems.

In a typical session she will help identify practical steps, try new coping strategies, and track what is or isn’t working. She emphasizes clear communication and problem solving for issues like blended family stress, communication breakdowns, and career strain.

People who want a collaborative, skill-focused therapist may find her style a fit. To begin, clients use the site's Start Therapy process and complete a brief matching questionnaire to connect and schedule with her.

How key approaches work online and in session

CBT, or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing new behaviors to change mood and day-to-day functioning. It is often used for anxiety, depression, and stress-related problems.

DBT, or Dialectical Behavior Therapy, teaches concrete skills for emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and better interpersonal communication. These skills help when feelings feel overwhelming or relationships are strained.

The Gottman Method concentrates on practical communication and problem-solving tools for relationship strain. It offers specific exercises to try at home that can improve how partners talk and listen.

Finding the right fit is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to choose or adapt approaches based on their needs, goals, and preferences. That means trying techniques, checking what helps, and adjusting the plan together.

If you are considering online sessions, confirm current session formats before booking since options are not specified here. Online therapy can make it easier to fit meetings into busy days, allow shorter check-ins when schedules are tight, and remove travel time so people can focus on practicing skills between appointments.