Hi, I’m Dr. Ashley Phillips!
I’m a recovering Type-A with big (color-coded and bullet-pointed, obviously) dreams of becoming a laid-back Type-B.
I’m the kind of mom who believes in slow, screen-free living—but I’m not above putting on a little Bluey while I max out my Kindle Unlimited subscription. (Confession: Bluey is actually my favorite show.)
I grew up as a twice-exceptional kid—bright enough to overthink everything, sensitive enough to feel it all, and perfectionistic enough to turn a small mistake into a full-blown identity crisis. Therapy helped me move through the spirals and self-doubt… though my rule-following streak is alive and well.
Now, I’m a mom to a twice-exceptional son and married to a twice-exceptional man. Let’s just say "quirky" might be the understatement of the year.
That’s why I do this work. I know—from the inside out—what it’s like to raise and be a bright, sensitive, intense kid in a world that doesn’t always make room for them.
As a clinical psychologist and play therapist, I help gifted and twice-exceptional kids (and their families) move from anxiety and perfectionism to calm, confidence, and connection.
I’ve been where you and your child are. I know what it’s like to feel stuck in the grind, questioning whether you’re doing enough or doing it right. I know those sleepless nights spent thinking, “If they keep acting this way will their life be ruined? Are they going to have the same struggles I’ve had?” Like many of my clients, I spent years teetering between two extremes: zoning out, scrolling endlessly of quick fixes to find the “one true way” to stop meltdowns, or throwing myself into a never-ending list of projects to feel like a “good mom” of a complex child.
What I didn’t realize then was that their happiness wasn’t tied to how many “right” things we checked off of the imaginary “neurodiverse magic” checklist—or didn’t. It wasn’t until I as a parent let go of that constant hustle, learned to actually relax, and reconnect with my emotions that my our lives started to feel lighter. It allowed us to gain tools and empowered us to utilize those tools to navigate a world that frankly isn’t built for complex kids OR adults! Guess what? As a result of my continued work my own child started easing into behaviors that were much more manageable. That journey wasn’t easy, but it taught me lessons I’m here to share with you so you don’t have to figure it all out the hard way.
I know how hard it is to break out of survival mode—but I also know it’s possible. I’ve worked with children and families in your situation for over twenty years in various capacities and have seen the most amazing transformations.
Gifted and neurologically complex children are some of the sweetest, most capable, and loving children I’ve ever met. Once they have the right tools and skills, they’re unstoppable. That’s why I’m so passionate about helping these children (and their families) build skills, grow their ability to handle big emotions and rediscover the joy and fulfillment they’ve been craving.
Your child doesn’t have to live in a constant state of “just getting through the day.” You and your child deserve more than that, and I’d love to help you get there.
I’ve been working with families since 2005, supporting people in some of the most stressful circumstances imaginable, including families like yours. My training includes a formal residency in pediatric psychology and I’ve worked at institutions such as:
Oakland Children’s Hospital
UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital
Providence Hospital (Oregon)
Valley Children’s Hospital (Central Valley, CA)
Ongoing publishing and peer-reviewing of research in the internationally renown journal for gifted exceptional children: Roeper Review
I am also a former teacher and bring my knowledge of the educational, system, gifted and talented education, and special education to my work. I’ve worked in Madera and Reef Sunset Unified School Districts. I worked with school psychologists at Manchester G.A.T.E. administering and scoring assessments that were used in Individual Educational Plan (IEP) meetings and wrote reports for use inside and outside of the classroom.
I’ve also volunteer for The Tics and Tourette’s Society of America and The Epilepsy Foundation of America two organizations I highly recommend if you’re looking to support meaningful causes.
Through it all, my focus has been helping families like your—hard working, loving, and stretched too thin—find their way back to themselves. Together, we’ll create the life you deserve, one that isn’t about merely surviving but truly thriving.