About Bila

My name is Ashley Bila Bar-Zion, but my preferred name is Bila and my pronouns are she/her. I received my Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Social Work with a focus in Integrated Health and Political Science. I have experience working with individuals who experience grief and loss, depression, anxiety, relationship conflicts, self-esteem challenges, domestic violence, exploring their identity, navigating multiple identities, navigating complex trauma, and/or exploring life transitions. I have a deepened understanding of the ways in which family members with complex mental health experiences or substance-use can take center stage in a family system and pull away from one's needs being met especially as a child and the many ways in which it can also impact one’s personal development in the world.

I operate from a core belief that you are the expert when it comes to your own lived experience and that you guide our therapeutic process. I deeply value your own wisdom and use that knowledge to collaborate through this work. I will often discuss the therapeutic process with you and involve you in assessing how the therapeutic work feels or whether we should adjust. I frame our work through a social justice lens, emphasizing the impacts of oppression on groups and individuals in society and attempt to deepen our understanding of your own attachment as a response to your history and relational experiences. I may utilize some of the following modalities in our work together including, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Somatic, Relational Therapy, Psychodynamic, and Exposure and Response Prevention.

A bit about me:

When I’m not in sessions, you’ll likely find me spending time with my partner and my rescued pitbull, Waldo. I enjoy being outdoors during my free time on a hike, meeting with friends or cooking up a big nourishing meal for myself and my community. I recently took up throwing pottery and I am practicing enjoying the intimidating process of learning a new skill from scratch and the grit that it takes to improve.

I believe therapists should go to therapy and I believe that while therapy is incredibly important and unlike any other healing process– it doesn’t replace other important healing processes that community, friends, or family (or chosen family) can provide.

If it feels like we may be a good fit, please reach out and I look forward to meeting you.