Katie Ford, MS, NCC, LCMHCS

I started off my career in the helping profession as a support staff for at-risk tween and teenagers. I lived with and guided these youth for weeks at a time. There were many tough times. Times when I was yelled at, pushed away, rejected, and experienced moments that felt hopeless and impossible. I have experienced the worry and frustration in trying technique after technique to work with a child, and nothing seems to be the right fit. It was these moments that allowed me to better understand and appreciate the process of change. I witnessed defenses begin to melt away as moments of shared joy, connection, and hope blossomed. It was here that solidified my career in the helping profession. I went on to graduate school, worked with young adults in a college setting, and then became a clinician at a therapeutic boarding school for girls ages 9-16 where I worked with individuals, groups, and families. I became the Clinical Director at this same program where I was able to reach even more families, and supervise other clinicians as they walked alongside the girls and their families. I now enjoy working with children, adolescents, and young adults in the Asheville community. 

As my work transitioned to supporting more families and parents, I began to become more and more interested in the journey of the parent - starting at the very beginning. The metamorphosis that happens, the layers that we bring to parenthood; and most importantly, the lack of support and awareness that our community tends to provide to pregnant, birthing, and adopting people. How raw the postpartum period can feel, and the unrealistic expectations placed on today’s parent became more and more apparent to me. 

My own transition to motherhood was beautiful, hard, joyful, traumatic, and sad. I experienced postpartum PTSD due to a medical trauma my first son experienced shortly after birth. My own experience healing from this trauma with my family further enhanced my awareness and solidified my desire and passion to help others in their perinatal experience. I feel passionate about supporting parents dealing with perinatal trauma, or past trauma affecting their journey into parenthood. I enjoy working with parents on any step in their transition to parenthood, from pregnancy, adoption contemplation, through postpartum and raising children. Now also being a parent of twins, I have additional interest in supporting parents of multiples! 

MY TRAINING AND CLINICAL PERSPECTIVE

I am a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Supervisor and Nationally Certified Counselor. I have a Masters Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from UNC Greensboro.

I have been lucky in my career to have been trained in many different empirically based clinical approaches. During intake sessions, I assess the therapeutic modality that is going to be the best fit for you and/or your family.  I don't believe in a one-size fits all approach to therapy, and thus draw from a variety of modalities to best fit your unique needs and personality. 

I am a fully certified Theraplay® practitioner. Theraplay® is a child and family therapy for building strong attachments, healing trauma, building self esteem, and so much more! It is also great in aiding parent’s attachment during pregnancy and with infants. Learn more about Theraplay® here. I have also completed my training and supervision in SAFE EMDR. Additionally, I have training in IFS, Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy, structural family therapy, sand tray play therapy, art therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy. I have completed the Postpartum Support International certification training in perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, as well as the Perinatal Mental Health Advanced Psychotherapy Training.