Ashley Minus

My path to becoming a therapist started not in a science lab, but in the lecture halls of the University of Michigan, where I studied English and dreamed of becoming a screenwriter. After graduating, I immersed myself in the world of entertainment. However, a chance encounter with a dermatologist changed my trajectory. I was deeply touched by her work treating marginalized kids suffering from debilitating skin conditions. Witnessing the intersection of physical health and emotional well-being sparked something in me, shifting my focus from telling stories to helping people write their own next chapters. This realization led me to pursue a career in therapy. It has allowed me to others while also teaching me more about myself than I ever could have imagined.

Over the past year, my clinical work has been rooted in trauma. From my time at Phoenix House and Waymakers to my current role on the Crisis Assessment Team with the County of Orange, I've sat with individuals and families in some of their most vulnerable moments. I've learned to remain steady in the midst of crisis, to assess quickly, and to provide trauma-informed care. And while I'm deeply grateful for everything this work has taught me, I've recently found myself yearning for something slower, more relational.

What I'm really hoping to cultivate in this next phase is the ability to be with clients over time. I want to move beyond crisis stabilization and into the kind of work where I have the chance to witness couples and family members relate to one another outside of moments in crisis. While my resume will give a better sense of my background, I hope what comes through the most is not just where I've been, but where I'm hoping to go.

I'm a second-year doctoral student at Alliant University, pursuing my PsyD in Marriage and Family Therapy.