Meet Ashley Augustine LCSW-C
I believe therapy works best when you feel comfortable being yourself. My style is laid back, approachable, and centered around helping clients feel safe enough to open up without pressure or judgment.
My goal is to create a space where children, teens, and adults feel accepted, understood, and supported as they begin to make sense of what they are feeling and what they need.
Grounded Support. Meaningful Change.
Location
Telehealth | In-Person in Pasadena, MD
Ages
Adults 4 - 50 yo
Pronouns
She/Hers
Insurance
BCBS | Cigna | Aetna | United | Medicare | Tricare |
John Hopkins EHP & USFHP | Self-Pay
Services Offered
Child & Teen Therapy | Young Adult & Adult Therapy |
Child-Centered Play
My Focus Areas!
Anxiety, Depression & Life Transitions
Supporting clients navigating worry, low mood, stress, identity shifts, relationship changes, school or work stress, and seasons of transition.
Parenting & Family Support
Therapy with children and teens often works best when parents and caregivers feel supported too.
Children, Teens & Emotional Regulation
Supporting children and teens who are navigating big emotions, anxiety, sadness, irritability, school stress, social challenges, and difficulty communicating what they need.
Child-Centered Play Therapy
For children, play is often the most natural way to communicate. In child-centered play therapy, This approach helps children work through emotions, build confidence, strengthen problem-solving, and express what may be difficult to put into words.
How Therapy With Me Feels
Therapy with me feels laid back, approachable, and centered around the client. I believe meaningful work happens when clients feel comfortable enough to be themselves, without pressure to say the “right” thing or move faster than they are ready. With children, its important for me to allow play to guide the process. Rather than forcing a child to talk directly about hard things, I create space for them to express themselves naturally through play, creativity, and connection. This helps children feel more in control of the therapy experience while still working through emotions, challenges, and needs.With teens and adults, I bring the same relaxed and accepting presence. I give clients room to talk, reflect, laugh, sit with hard feelings, and explore what is happening in a way that feels supportive rather than overwhelming. Clients can expect a therapist who is warm, patient, nonjudgmental, and willing to meet them where they are.
Approaches I May Use
My approach is client-centered, relaxed, and responsive to each person’s needs. I believes therapy should feel like a space where clients can show up as they are and move through the process at a pace that feels safe and manageable. With children, I often uses child-centered play therapy, allowing the child to lead through play, imagination, and creativity. This approach respects the child’s natural way of communicating while helping them process emotions, build confidence, and develop a stronger sense of self. With teens and adults, I may use supportive talk therapy, emotional processing, coping skills, and reflection to help clients better understand themselves and what they need. My work is grounded in warmth, patience, and the belief that people often open up best when they do not feel pressured.
Professional Experiences That
Shape My Work
My work is shaped by a deep respect for the client’s pace and process. I understand that children, teens, and adults do not always open up on command, and that trust often grows through consistency, safety, and genuine connection. My focus on child-centered play therapy helps me see behavior as communication. Rather than viewing a child’s struggles as something to “fix,” I work to understand what the child may be expressing through play, emotion, behavior, or withdrawal. This allows therapy to feel supportive, respectful, and developmentally appropriate.
Clients Who Often Work Well With Me
- Children who express themselves more easily through play than through direct conversation
- Kids who are struggling with big emotions, anxiety, sadness, anger, irritability, or behavioral changes
- Teens who feel guarded, overwhelmed, misunderstood, or unsure how to talk about what they are feeling
- Parents who want help understanding what their child or teen may be communicating through behavior or withdrawal
- Children and teens who need a therapist who will move at their pace rather than push too quickly
- Clients who feel nervous about therapy and need a laid-back, approachable space to open up
- Adults navigating anxiety, depression, stress, relationship concerns, or life transitions
- Families who want therapy to support connection, emotional understanding, and practical growth at home
Interested in Working With Ashley?
Our Office
Location
3100F Mountain Rd. Pasadena, MD 21122
Phone Number
410-841-9647
intake@turningstonecounseling.com