MEET ASHLEY HARTMAN - LCSW PMH-C


Who am I?
My name is Ashley Hartman, and I am the founder and owner of Empower Women Counseling. In 2018, the year my second child was born, I found myself navigating the complexities of motherhood, my career as a psychotherapist, and the challenges of being a woman in a patriarchal society. Through this experience, I felt a profound calling to create a therapeutic space where women could find not only healing but also a supportive, empowering community.
At Empower Women Counseling, our mission is to help women heal from complex trauma so they can reconnect with their truest and most authentic selves. As a feminist-based, attachment-focused trauma therapy practice, we provide a safe and supportive space where women can process their experiences, break free from societal and relational conditioning, and cultivate deep self-awareness and emotional resilience. Through this healing journey, we empower women to embrace their inherent worth, foster meaningful connections, and step into their lives with confidence and authenticity.
It’s okay to not be okay.
I am a psychotherapist with over fifteen years of clinical experience. My specialties include complex and developmental trauma, post-traumatic stress Disorder, perinatal mental health, attachment trauma, and psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy (KAP). My clinical training spans a variety of settings, including foster care, inpatient and outpatient hospitals, and private practice. I earned my Master’s degree in Clinical Social Work from the University of Chicago.
My therapeutic vibe -
My therapeutic approach is attachment and trauma focused. I utilize Attachment Theory, EMDR, and Parts work via Internal Family Systems and DNMS along with Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) as tools to help my clients heal from deep emotional wounding.
Parts work, particularly as conceptualized through Internal Family Systems (IFS), provides a compassionate and non-pathologizing framework to help individuals understand, heal, and integrate the often-fragmented inner experiences that result from complex trauma and disrupted attachment. Trauma, especially when rooted in early relationships, tends to create internal divisions as a way of coping with overwhelming emotions, unmet needs, or unsafe environments.
In my work, I help clients identify how their early attachment experiences have shaped their current relational and emotional patterns. This exploration creates a foundation for understanding and healing longstanding wounds.
Call me at 708-480-2016 to schedule a free 15-minute consultation. I am happy to answer any questions you may have about your specific situation and how I can be of assistance.f help.
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Education, Certifications, & License
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Masters Degree in Clinical Social Work - University of Chicago - June 2011
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Illinois Licensed Clinical Social Worker – December 2013 - Present
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Advanced Training with Karen Kleiman The Art of Holding a Perinatal Women in Distress - March 2019
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Dynamic Attachment Repatterning Experience Training by Diane Poole Heller – November 2019
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Perinatal Mental Health Professional Certification (PMHC) February 2020 by Postpartum Support International
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Brainspotting Level 1 Completed – March 2020
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EMDR Level 1 & 2 Training Completed – March 2021 – Institute for Creative Mindfulness
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Integrating Ego States into Clinical Practice by Robin Shaprio – February 2022
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Ego State Therapy Interventions to Prepare your Most Wounded Dissociative Dysregulated Clients for EMDR - Developmental Needs Meeting Strategy - November 2022
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Internal Family Systems Master Class - Kendal Hart - November 2024
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Journey Care - Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy & Methodology - January 2025