A clear path out of survival mode
Trauma therapy for adults grounded in evidence, structure, and compassion.
Currently accepting clients. Virtual throughout California, in-person in Berkeley.
If trauma or chronic stress have caused your nervous system to stay in survival mode, it can be difficult to feel grounded, connected, and at ease in your own life.
Trauma doesn't only live in memory – it shows up in the body, in relationships, and in patterns like people-pleasing, emotional reactivity or shutdown, shame, and disconnection. It often crowds into every corner of a person’s life, which can make it hard to know how to begin healing. Therapy with me is a customized journey toward untangling the web of trauma wounds so you can access greater clarity, serenity, and control. You deserve to understand what we’re working on, why we’re working on it, and how change unfolds. My approach offers structure without rigidity – a defined path that honors your pace and individuality.
I offer a clear roadmap for healing.
Trauma recovery is not random; there is a natural progression to healing that we tap into. My work generally follows a three-phase model of healing that provides direction while remaining flexible to your needs.
Phase 1: Establishing solid ground – gaining skills, safety, and nervous system balance to build capacity
Phase 2: Walking through the story – revisiting traumatic memories in a contained way that reduces its emotional charge
Phase 3: Stepping into what’s next – reclaiming identity, strengthening relationships, and growing beyond your trauma
This approach allows you to set clear goals, know where you are in the process and where you’re headed, and be in charge of your healing journey.
My work weaves together a number of modalities:
Evidence-based trauma treatments, such as EMDR, Prolonged Exposure, and Cognitive Processing Therapy
Skills-based approaches, including Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and STAIR (Skills Training in Affective and Interpersonal Regulation)
Somatic and compassion-focused techniques
I work with adults navigating:
Complex trauma
PTSD
Traumatic grief
Emotional reactivity and numbness
Relationship challenges
Disconnection from the self or body
People-pleasing and boundary issues
Shame and self-criticism
Chronic stress
High-functioning anxiety
Burnout
Ash Murphy-Fowler, LCSW
I’m Ash (she/her), a psychotherapist specializing in trauma therapy for adults. My background includes individual and group therapy, crisis intervention, and community-level advocacy and development. I’m trained in multiple evidence-based trauma treatments, which I integrate with somatic, neuroscience-informed, and compassion-focused approaches to tailor treatment to you.
I believe healing from trauma happens through compassion, curiosity, and intentional structure. My role is to guide the process in a way that is thoughtful, transparent, and attuned to you.
