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Meet Ashley
Ashley Sonnone, M.S., ATR-BC, LMHC
Board-Certified Art Therapist
Licensed Mental Health Counselor
You don't have to be an artist to work with me
I know, because for a while I stopped believing I was one.
I was a creative child (like we all were)— always drawing, imagining, expressing. But somewhere in adolescence, surrounded by classmates who felt so much more talented, I started comparing. The pressure to create something perfect became louder than the joy of creating at all.
So I stopped.
For years, I didn't make art. I told myself I wasn't really an artist — that I didn't have the right to that title.
It wasn't until I was going through a difficult season of my own that I discovered art journaling. For the first time, I had a place where nothing had to be good—where I could create without knowing what would come of it. I could make a mark, see what happened, and respond.
That was its own kind of courage.
And it became the foundation for the process I now guide my clients through: letting go of the need to get everything right and learning to trust what emerges.
I share this because I'm not asking you to do anything I haven't done myself.
And honestly? My favorite clients are the ones who come in convinced they aren't creative.
What I've learned — from my own life and from years of this work — is that creativity was never about talent. It was shut down by comparison and perfectionism.
It's still in there.
You don't have to be an artist to walk through my door. You just have to be a little curious.
How I approach therapy
Therapy with me is collaborative, thoughtful, and paced in a way that honors where you are. I don't believe in rushing the process or forcing change. I guide from an embodied place-I'm not asking you to do anything I haven't done myself.
I work especially well with women who are used to being in their heads—thinking, analyzing, anticipating, and trying to figure things out. That way of being can be incredibly useful, until you're facing something you can't simply think your way through.
Bodies don't always follow the plan.
Maybe you're navigating changes in your cycle, fertility uncertainty, an unexpected change in your body, difficult symptoms, reproductive loss, or simply the realization that your body isn't behaving the way you thought it would.
When that happens, it's easy to respond with more control:
What am I doing wrong?
What should I be doing differently?
What can I fix?
Why can't my body just cooperate?
My work helps you slow down that cycle of monitoring, judging, and overthinking and begin developing a different relationship with yourself and your body—one that can hold uncertainty, grief, change, and things you cannot control.
And this is where art therapy comes in.
Rather than relying solely on words, we use creative expression to explore experiences that can be difficult to explain.
Through watercolor, drawing, collage, art journaling, and other expressive processes, you can give shape to feelings, sensations, expectations, grief, and parts of yourself that may not have words yet.
The art isn't about making something beautiful or getting it right. It's about creating a different way to experience yourself.
My approach integrates Art Therapy, CBT, ACT, mindfulness, and body-aware practices—always in service of you rather than a rigid protocol.
I also bring specialized training in reproductive and women's mental health, including reproductive physiology, fertility support, hormonal mood changes, and cycle awareness.
Because sometimes coming home to yourself means learning how to be in a body—and a life—that didn't turn out exactly as you expected.
My background
I'm a Board-Certified Art Therapist and Licensed Mental Health Counselor with over 11 years of experience working with adults. My training includes trauma-informed care, reproductive physiology, reproductive mental health, and fertility support.
My approach integrates Art Therapy, CBT, ACT, mindfulness, and somatic awareness — always in service of you, not a protocol.
I'm a published researcher, have presented at national conferences including the American Art Therapy Association (AATA) and the American Psychological Association (APA), and am an active member of the American Art Therapy Association and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine.
But more than any credential — I've sat with my own perfectionism. I've experienced what it feels like to lose touch with creativity and find my way back. And I know that coming home to yourself isn't about becoming a different person. It's about learning to trust the person who's already there.
Specialty Areas
Hormonal Mood Changes (PMS + PMDD)
Hormonal shifts can significantly impact mood, energy, and how you experience yourself. If you struggle with PMS, PMDD, or intense emotional changes throughout your cycle, I help you understand your patterns, regulate your nervous system, and feel more supported in your body each month.
Fertility Support
Trying to conceive or navigating infertility can feel like an emotional rollercoaster—filled with hope, anxiety, grief, and uncertainty. I provide a compassionate space to process the pressures of this journey while helping you stay connected to yourself through each phase.
Stress, Anxiety + Burnout
When life feels unpredictable, anxiety can take over. Whether you're experiencing constant worry, racing thoughts, difficulty slowing down, or feeling emotionally depleted, I help you build practical coping tools, regulate your nervous system, and cultivate a greater sense of steadiness and self-trust.
Identity, Loss, + Life Transitions
Reproductive and hormonal experiences often bring layers of grief—both visible and unseen. This may include loss, unmet expectations, or a shift in how you see yourself. I offer a space to process these experiences, explore identity changes, and reconnect with who you are beyond what you’re going through.
Qualifications & Expertise
Education & Experience
I am a Board Certified Art Therapist and Licensed Mental Health Counselor with more than 11 years of experience providing mental health services to adults.
Specialized Training
I have received advanced training in trauma-informed care, reproductive physiology, reproductive mental health, and fertility.
Approach
My approach is client-centered, collaborative, and holistic. I integrate aspects of Art Therapy, CBT, ACT, mindfulness, and somatic awareness.
Expertise
Reproductive mental health, perfectionism, burnout, stress, and anxiety.
Publications, Posters, Presentations & Awards
Publications
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Sonnone, A. & Spraggins Rochford, J. (2020). Wellness at universities: A group art therapy approach. Journal of College Counseling, 23, 168-179. doi.org/10.1002/jocc.12157
Posters & Presentations
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Sonnone, A., Monaghan, P. L., & Peters, A. S. (2019, August). Utilizing Art Therapy in Group to Address Anxiety: Creating Connections. Poster presented at the 2019 annual American Psychological Association conference, Chicago, IL.
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Spraggins Rochford, J. & Hammond, A. (2017, November). Wellness at Universities: A Group Art Therapy Approach. Paper presented at the 48th annual American Art Therapy Association conference, Albuquerque, NM.
Awards & Honors
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“Hardee Research Award” for the Florida State University Division of Student Affairs, May 2018