We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ashley Pittman-Fair a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Ashley , thanks for joining us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

Ha, taking a risk! After grad school, I worked in community mental health for three years. Being a therapist and navigating others’ perceptions of therapists was hard, and I didn’t feel like my clients were being served properly.
When Covid happened, I initially thought, “I am for sure stuck in this position!” That fear motivated me to leave my full-time job (with benefits) that did not allow upward mobility to join a private practice with no clients and no benefits. This all happened while planning a wedding and navigating Covid anxiety!

Whew, was I terrified about this large risk. I consulted my closest support systems. It was a struggle, as generations before me (my parents) thought this was not the best risk to take at this time, and I should opt into a job with a retirement plan and benefits, given that no one understood what could happen with Covid. My wife suggested that I lean into what I believed I was called to do. And so, that’s what I did.

Working in private practice has allowed me to fully be myself and allowed clients the opportunity to work with a therapist that looks like them. I’ve also created a social media platform for people in therapy or considering therapy, which granted me the opportunity to partner with My Therapy Cards and Her Therapy Space. You can follow me at @ashleyrenee_therapy

One of my favorite quotes that helped during this time was “Don’t wait around for other people to be happy for you. Any Happiness you get you’ve got to make yourself”. –Alice Walker

During this transition period, I also started a business called Thera-Tea with Ashley-Renee LLC. Within a year, I gained clients in the private practice, was promoted to Associate Director of Operations, my business expanded, and I was able to raise money to give back to the communities I care about the most. I took the risk because I believed in my work and my gifts. Before quitting my job, I felt boxed in, and like I had to fit this narrative of being a traditional cookie cooker therapist. This narrative took away from how I could show up for clients that look like me in an authentic way. I was unable to grow towards where I was called.

Now, I currently have a waitlist at the private practice. I have been able to enjoy where I am with confidence, while continuing to live the life that I want.

Ashley , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Hey y’all, Ashley Reneé here. I’m a Licensed Professional Counselor, clinical trainer, and CEO of Thera-Tea with Ashley-Renee LLC. My passions include destigmatizing mental health in communities of color, examining the impacts of trauma on development, and garnering support for students, families, and adults of color in predominantly White spaces. I am determined to unlock human potential, and foster it in a safe, and caring environment.
I was born and raised on the West Side of Chicago. I am a wife, dog mom, plant mom, and self-care and self-love officer. I tend to spend my free time doing DIY projects, reading, painting, hitting up a few museums or art shows and educating myself on holistic wellness. I also enjoy helping Black Folx live and rediscover themselves by examining past traumatic experiences, setting boundaries, and finding mental clarity.

As a therapist, I work with Black people, particularly those who have experienced trauma. I specialize in helping clients reframe the traumatic things that have happened in their lives with a greater sense of peace. My goal is to hold space for my clients to address the issues that seem endless. I have worked with individuals presenting with a wide range of concerns including, but not limited to, anxiety and depression, various life changes and transition periods, drugs and alcohol, and navigating higher education across their lifespan. My approach is person-centered, trauma-responsive, and LGBTQIA+ affirming. I am trained in EMDR, Drug and Alcohol Abuse, Infant Mental Health, Child-Parent Psychotherapy, and more.

As a contracted clinical trainer, I train communities, schools, and parents on facts related to substance abuse, mental health, how to support others with mental health conditions, communication skills, supporting your child or student who may identify as LGBTQIA+, and healthy family dynamics.

My interest in mental health wellness was born from personal experience. As someone who knows what it’s like to be on both the addiction and recovery side of someone facing alcohol and drug addiction, I can better empathize with clients who are undergoing drug addiction firsthand, or those who are struggling with the traumas of watching a loved one be affected. My mom is currently recovering from alcohol addiction and has been sober for 5+ years.

Where I grew up also plays a role in how passionate I am about mental health. I grew up in an area where there was a liquor store and drugs accessible on every corner, and as cliché as it sounds, I really wanted to save my people.

I remember completing my internship educating Black and Brown communities and a youth expressed “I will never talk to a therapist or a doctor because White people have no clue what it’s like to be Black. How are they going to help me understand my family dynamic?” And in more ways than not, they were correct. This motivated me to be the change I wanted to see.

My work in a residential treatment facility taught me that I was not called to police the behaviors of youth that have experienced trauma. I wanted to use my master’s degree in Counseling Psychology to assist youth with navigating being in residential, as well as identifying traumas and ways to implement coping strategies. The neglect of systems by the government, the chronic underfunding, chronic staff shortages, the ridiculous compliance system, and family expectations made it impossible to focus on healing.

I initially became a business owner by making body butter as a hobby because of my skin sensitivity. However, as I did my research, I found that so many of the popular bath and body products we use are harmful to the skin. All of our bath and body products are handmade in Chicago, IL in small batches. Stress, depression, and psychological problems, in general, can exacerbate skin issues. The most common dermatological issues that are made worse by stress are acne, rosacea, psoriasis, itching, eczema, and hives, just to name a few. With this information in mind, I launched “Therapy For The Body.”

We sell various products, including bath salts, body scrubs, lip balms, and body butters. At Therapy For The Body, we believe that what goes ON your body is just as important as what goes IN your body. Therefore, we pride ourselves on making products that are vegan, cruelty-free, and free of harsh chemicals. Every ingredient is vigorously researched and tested to provide our customers with hydrated and healthy skin.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

When I really think about it, I can name four strategies that have been effective in growing my clientele. Number 1 is using social media platforms and learning more about self-promotion and marketing. Everything is digital nowadays, so social media is truly a lifesaver. Number 2 is to be honest, share personal experiences, and be relatable. People want to buy from someone they feel like they know and can trust.

Number 3 is creating calm spaces where individuals can show up as themselves, have clinicians that look like them, and allow free-flowing conversations. This one is most important in the work that I do because it speaks to my authenticity, and how I want my clients to show up as well. Authenticity is key to becoming the person that you were always meant to be. On the therapeutic journey together, with my clients, I will teach them the skills necessary to step into their greatness fully and unashamedly.

Finally, speaking about my passions to others has been the best way for me to formulate those invaluable connections.

I curated this space to discuss therapy, mental health, and everything related–so glad to have you here for the ride! But here’s a gentle reminder that social media is not therapy. I do not respond to private messages regarding therapy appointments or intakes. I have created a linktree in my bio where you can find everything you need to get started with therapy.

While I personally recognize that vulnerability can be difficult, especially when talking about yourself, I allow clients the space to explore the power that vulnerability has without shame or judgment. In this space, you get to experience vulnerability as a tool of healing.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I had to unlearn being a cookie-cutter clinician. Being a Black therapist meant that I had to show up a certain way or have a specific theoretical orientation. To thrive, however, I had to unlearn the negative connotations associated with being a Black therapist.
I also had to learn that my sexual orientation does not take away from my therapeutic approach. A lot of clients are searching for Black lesbian therapists and coming up short. For a long time, I hid that from my clients, but now, I am more willing to disclose, and the reaction has been a positive experience.

A lesson I am still unpacking is being a perfectionist. Growing up, I wanted to be the best and achieve the very best of life. As I became more aware of who I am and the value I bring to the world, I started learning to trust the process more, and not worry so much about whether I achieved this impossible standard. I realized that progression matters more than perfection. It’s a journey, not a destination.

I think a lot of Black people can relate to this, but I was taught to accept every request that came my way to be successful. I now understand that timing and alignment matter, and that the opportunities meant for me will not pass me by or force me to lose sleep in the process. I realized that I wasn’t happy with a million streams of income that require so much work. The burnout was real. And now, I’m better able to focus on my passions and build what matters most to me.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.therapyforthebody.com
• Instagram: ashleyrenee_therapy
• Facebook: Ashley Renee Therapy
• Twitter: ARenee_Therapy
• Other: TikTok- ashleyrenee_therapy