- Stress and anxiety
- Family conflict
- Life purpose
About Gretchen
Gretchen Ashman is an AASW social worker with seven years of professional experience in Australia. She works with people dealing with stress, anxiety, family conflict, trauma and abuse, low self-esteem and depression. Her practice also addresses guilt and shame, loneliness, social anxiety and questions about life purpose.
Gretchen uses straightforward conversation to help people sort through what feels overwhelming. She focuses on practical steps rather than abstract promises. Sessions are a place to name difficult feelings and think through small changes that make daily life easier.
Her approach pays attention to how past experiences affect present choices. She helps people identify unhelpful patterns and try different ways of responding. That can mean small behavioural experiments or shifting how someone talks to themselves.
Gretchen also supports people taking stock of their priorities after a big change. She helps clarify values and test options for work, relationships or personal goals without pushing a single solution. The aim is to help people feel more able to make decisions that fit their life.
Practical details are part of her work. Sessions include talking through current problems, setting short-term goals and checking progress. People are invited to move at a pace that suits them, with ongoing adjustment as needs shift.
Therapeutic approaches and online sessions
Gretchen works with evidence-based therapeutic techniques that focus on present problems and practical change. One common approach helps people notice and test unhelpful thoughts and behaviours, teaching simple skills to reduce anxiety and low mood and to try different responses in triggering situations. Another approach looks at the effects of past hurt or trauma on current life, helping people make sense of painful memories and reduce their impact on everyday decisions.Finding the right approach is part of the work together. Gretchen will discuss different methods in early sessions and help decide which fits a person’s needs, goals and preferences. The choice is collaborative and may change as the work progresses.
Confirm the specific online session formats available before booking, as the biography does not list formats. Online work can make sessions easier to fit into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins, and remove travel time. It can also help people join from a quieter space, use fewer technical resources, or manage sessions without being on camera when that suits them better.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Experience
7+ years
Listed in
Australia
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, family conflict, trauma and abuse, self-esteem issues and depression. Additional focus areas include guilt and shame, loneliness, social anxiety and life purpose.
How does she work with people who feel stuck?
She uses practical conversation to name problems and try small changes. Work typically includes setting short-term goals and reviewing what helps between sessions.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has seven years of professional experience working with a range of concerns including mood and anxiety issues and family conflict.
What credential does she hold and where is she based?
She is listed with the AASW and practises in Australia.
Which languages are supported in sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work with her?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How are sessions priced?
Cost varies with location. Sessions operate via a subscription model that can be cancelled at any time.
What do I do to begin?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule your first session.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the crisis numbers.