Ashton Barnes

Hi there! I’m Ashton, a Nationally Certified Counselor and Resident in counseling who is lucky enough to work with fellow therapists on their unique supervision journey. I believe useful and supportive supervision to be one of the most valuable tools in becoming a confident and capable therapist, and I do not take this title lightly!

My clinical experience has spanned the last 6 years and began with me supporting folks diagnosed with a serious mental illness in a high acuity, community based setting, shifting to then working with individuals experiencing chronic homelessness and systemic instability, and finally to outpatient psychotherapy as both an intern and resident. I gravitate towards adults with life stories that include anxiety, ptsd, relational concerns, self-worth and self-esteem challenges, attachment trauma, and interpersonal issues.

Both my prior clinical experience and the incredible supervision I have personally received inform my approach and style in a supervisor role. As a deeply relational being, I approach supervision in an appropriate but similar way to psychotherapy as we are all humans learning and growing from one another. I value what I call the 4 C’s: Curiosity, Compassion, Calmness, and Challenging. As your supervisor, I will ensure I am approaching you and your clinical concerns with curiosity, meeting you and your emotional responses with compassion, remaining calm and grounded so as to coregulate when needed, and challenging you to identify any blind spots or countertransference that might be influencing potential stuck points. Supervision will be both a safe landing space as well as an opportunity to push past discomfort in order to grow your clinical skills. I can’t wait to be a part of your journey!

Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in criminal justice from James Madison University

Master of Science in Rehabilitation & Mental Health Counseling with a concentration in clinical mental health counseling from Virginia Commonwealth University

EMDR Trained - Spring 2025