Practice Information
Ashley Merriman Therapy is a safe and welcoming space dedicated to supporting BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ folks, as well as entertainment industry workers. As a queer black woman owned practice, I prioritize healing justice, community care, transparency, accountability, decolonization and accessibility. My goal is to provide quality mental health care to those who need it, with a grounding and compassionate approach.
Office Location
In person services are offered on Sundays from 9am to 5pm at 1033 Gayley Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90024
Office Accessibility: Accessible by public transportation, Parking available, Elevators available, Wheelchair accessible, Size positive, All gender/gender neutral bathrooms, Wheelchair accessible bathroom, Single stall bathroom, Non-fluorescent lighting, Low scent/limited scent, Street Parking, Service & Emotional Support Animal Friendly
Telehealth
Online services are offered on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 1pm-9pm.
Telehealth is administered through a secure, HIPAA compliant platform, Simple Practice.
The link to your appointment will be sent to via email prior to the start of your session. You can also use the client portal to access your session.
Tips for a successful tele-health session:
Ensure the place where you'll be during the session is quiet and private to avoid interruptions and maintain confidentiality.
Make sure your device (computer, tablet, or smartphone) is fully charged and that your internet connection is stable. Test your camera, microphone, and speakers ahead of time
Using headphones can improve sound quality and provide more privacy.
Log into the telehealth platform a few minutes before your appointment to troubleshoot any last-minute technical issues.
If you have any difficulties logging in, call me by phone.
Click here to find the dates that I am closed.
Practice Values
PIC Abolition:
As an abolitionist therapist seeking to avoid engaging with policing or carceral systems in my practice, I have adopted a variety of practices rooted in anti-oppression.
Non-Pathologizing Approach: I focus on understanding clients' experiences without labeling them with diagnostic categories that might pathologize their responses to systemic oppression. The only time I offer diagnosis(es), if applicable, is if the patient requests it or if it validates medical necessity for reimbursement of services from insurance.
Empowerment and Agency: I emphasize empowerment and self-determination in my work with clients. I want to help clients build their agency and resilience, rather than suggesting interventions that involve carceral or punitive measures.
Community-Based Support: I connect clients with community resources and support networks that are not tied to the carceral system. I participate in and encourage participation in mutual aid networks, support groups, and community organizations.
Restorative Justice Practices: I integrate restorative justice principles in my practice and facilitate processes that promote healing, accountability, and reconciliation without resorting to punitive measures.
Trauma-Informed Care: I provide trauma-informed care that recognizes the impact of systemic oppression and avoids retraumatizing clients. I understand that many clients may have had negative experiences with carceral systems and offer support with systemic trauma.
Advocacy and Education: I advocate for systemic change and educate myself and my clients about alternatives to the carceral system. I try to stay informed about policies and practices that align with abolitionist principles.
Ethical & Legal Boundaries: I do my best to avoid reporting in ways that could lead to client involvement with the criminal justice system, and seek alternative ways to ensure safety and support, when possible. I believe that mandated reporting laws are problematic and are used to oppress the most marginalized people.
Collaborative Approaches: I work collaboratively with clients to develop personalized care plans that do not involve carceral systems. This might include holistic approaches to mental health, such as mindfulness, art therapy, and other non-traditional and ancestral therapeutic modalities.
Critical Reflection: I continuously reflect on my practice and the ways it might inadvertently support carceral logics. I engage in consultation with like-minded colleagues to maintain accountability and ensure my practice aligns with abolitionist values.
Click here for more information on abolitionism.
Reparations:
As a Black therapist, I stand firmly in support of reparations for the profound injustices and systemic racism that have deeply impacted Black and Indigenous communities. Reparations are not only a necessary acknowledgment of historical wrongs but also a critical step towards healing and equity. In my practice, I am dedicated to providing culturally responsive care and advocating for policies that ensure equitable access to mental health services for all.
Click here to sponsor low cost therapy services for a Black and/or LGBTQIA+ person.
Land Acknowledgement & Land Back:
I acknowledge that the land on which I live and work is the traditional and unceded territory of the Chumash and Gabrielino/Tongva peoples. As the original caretakers of this land, the Chumash and Gabrielino/Tongva peoples have stewarded this region for thousands of years and continue to play a vital role in the community.
I pay my respects to the Chumash and Gabrielino/Tongva Elders, past, present, and emerging and extend my respect to all Indigenous peoples and their ancestral lands. I commit myself to the ongoing work of recognizing and addressing the historical and present-day injustices faced by Native communities.
I advocate for and support the Land Back movement, which is an initiative led by Indigenous peoples to reclaim land that was taken from them through colonization and government policies. It focuses on restoring Indigenous stewardship and governance over these lands, as well as recognizing and respecting their rights and sovereignty.
Anti-genocide:
My practice is rooted in a profound commitment to human dignity and justice. I believe in standing boldly against all forms of genocide and systemic violence, advocating for the liberation and restoration of oppressed regions. Free Palestine, Congo, Sudan, Haiti, Yemen, and others suffering from exploitation.
Practice Policies
Limited Cancellation Policy:
Session fees for cancellations or no-shows will not be waived, no matter the reason (except for freebies, described below). You can reschedule your appointment anytime during the week before, week of, or week after your absence. This policy gives you a three-week window to reschedule a missed session. If the appointment is not rescheduled, you will be charged your standard fee for the session. This may mean that we may have more than 1 session in a week to make up for a missed session. If you need to cancel or reschedule, please let me know as soon as possible, so that I can accommodate any rescheduling for other clients.
Fees are waived for 4 absences per year for vacations or other types of extended leaves. These are called “freebies.” These freebies allow some flexibility for when life happens. These freebies are in addition to any closed dates (see here). Freebies do not cover no-shows, which are scheduled sessions that weren’t attended, with no prior notice of cancellation.
Dual Relationships/Social Media Policy:
Psychotherapy never involves sex or any other dual relationship that impairs the therapist’s objectivity, clinical judgment, or can be exploitative in nature. If you are my client, it is my ethical duty to ensure that our relationship is confined to the clinical space. If we happen to see each other out in public, to protect your privacy, I will not acknowledge you unless you acknowledge me first and I will not disclose the nature of our relationship. I will not accept requests to link on online social media sites such as TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn. If you happen to follow my professional practice pages on social media sites, I will not respond to comments or private messages if you are my client. These links or communicating via such sites risks unnecessarily complicating the therapist/patient relationship or compromising your privacy.
Confidentiality Policy:
Information disclosed within your sessions and the written records pertaining to those sessions are confidential and may not be revealed to anyone without your written permission except where disclosure is required by law. It is important that you are aware of these circumstances, including:
You present a danger to yourself because you have become gravely disabled or suicidal.
You, or your family member, communicate to me that you present a serious/imminent danger to others (a reasonably identifiable victim or victims).
You disclose information, about yourself or another, leading to reasonable suspicion of:
Child Abuse and Neglect: sexual abuse, sexual exploitation (including viewing child pornography), neglect, willful cruelty, unjustifiable punishment, unlawful corporal punishment or injury, exposure to domestic violence between adults (even when a child is not physically harmed)
Elder/Dependent Adult Abuse: physical abuse, sexual assault, neglect, financial abuse, abandonment, isolation, mental suffering, threats/harassment/intimidation
In these cases, I am mandated to telephone and file a written report to the relevant public office (DCFS or APS). I may involve you in making the report, if appropriate and time permitting.
Couple/Family Therapy: Confidentiality and privilege do not apply between the couple or family members. I will not release records to anyone unless I am authorized to do so by all adult parties.
On occasion, I may consult with other professionals regarding your treatment in order to improve the quality of care I can provide you. Minimal identifying information will be revealed during these consultations and every effort will be made to maintain confidentiality.
Click here for more information about my privacy practices.