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Ashley McCarthy, AMFT
My name is Ashley and I am an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist practicing in California under the supervision of our founder, Linda Meier Abdelsayed, LMFT. I came to this work after years spent leading teams and advocating for maternal mental health, and after raising two kids of my own. I know what it feels like to hold a lot at once and still wonder if you're doing any of it right.
My Specialty:
Nobody hands you a manual when you become a parent. You get advice from every direction, a mental list of everything you're supposed to be doing, and a quiet worry that everyone else got the instructions and you didn't. Maybe you're losing your patience more than you'd like to and hating yourself for it afterward. Maybe discipline has turned into a daily power struggle, or you and your partner can't get on the same page about how to handle any of it. Maybe you look at your kids and love them completely and still feel stretched so thin there's nothing left over for you.
I work with parents in exactly that spot. Together we'll look at what's actually driving the hard moments, build steadier ways to communicate and set limits, and make room for you to feel like a person again and not just the one managing everyone else. My approach is trauma-informed and collaborative, which often means we look at the patterns you grew up with too, because a lot of how we parent comes from how we were parented, for better and for worse.
I also work with adults and couples navigating relationship strain, life transitions, and old wounds that resurface when life gets full. Wherever you're starting from, my style is warm and down-to-earth. Sessions should feel like a real conversation with someone who gets it, not a lecture and not a performance. You don't need to have it figured out before you reach out. That's what we'll do together.
Contact
Schedule your first appointment today.
You can also book a free consultation or learn more about Smart Talk Therapy.
Education
Pepperdine University
Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology (Marriage and Family Therapy)
UCLA Anderson School of Management
Master of Business Administration
University of California, Los Angeles
Bachelor of Science in Political Science

Insurance and Fees
I am available to private pay clients and my rate is $150 per session. I can provide superbills for PPO insurance for clients who want to use their out-of-network benefits.
Related Reading from Our Blog
5 Minute Read
A blog on the identity shift of new parenthood.
6 Minute Read
A blog on on the nervous-system depletion of being the always-on parent.
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