Ashley Swon Counseling

06/04/2026

not to be dramatic but… my logo. my shirt.
5 years later and i’m almost officially independently licensed and running my own business like a total girl boss. this is wild. teenage me would not believe this.

06/03/2026

FYI: One of my favorite books on boundaries is on sale on Amazon right now for less than half the regular price!

If you've ever thought, “Maybe I need better boundaries,” “What even is a boundary?” or “Why do I keep saying yes when I want to say no?” I highly recommend Set Boundaries, Find Peace by Nedra Glover Tawwab.

It's practical, easy to read, and one of my go-to resources. I recommend it to clients often and think it's a great place to start if you're looking to create healthier boundaries in your relationships and daily life.

06/02/2026

Sydney is one of my most trusted referral sources. She was in my grad school cohort and I trust her with my life! We have a similar vibe, so if you are looking for a great therapist in the Columbia area (or telehealth), look no further. You would be in excellent hands!

✨Clinician Spotlight: Sydney Meyer, PLPC

Meet Sydney: craft-loving, community-building, caffeine enthusiast 🤍

When Sydney isn't supporting clients, you'll likely find her exploring the Farmer's Market, walking downtown with a friend, getting creative with crafts, or hunting for unique treasures while thrifting and antiquing. She's a Scorpio (with a tattoo to prove it), and she's always happy with anything salty, crunchy, and caffeinated

Sydney brings experience working with adolescents, teens, college students, adults, and older adults in community mental health settings. She is passionate about helping clients ages 13 and up, with a special interest in working with college students and adults diagnosed with ADHD.

Her approach is rooted in building genuine connections and creating a space where clients feel safe, validated, and understood. Using a client-centered approach and drawing from Internal Family Systems (IFS), Sydney helps clients explore their experiences, strengthen self-understanding, and move toward meaningful growth and healing.

Sydney believes that being able to connect with people where they are is one of the greatest joys of being a therapist. She is passionate about building strong therapeutic relationships and fostering a sense of community, support, and belonging for every client she works with.

Sydney currently accepts Healthy Blue Medicaid, Home State Health Medicaid, Cigna, and private pay.

We are so proud to have Sydney on our team! 🤍🩵

06/01/2026

I want to say something for Pride Month that might not land perfectly with everyone reading this.

I’m okay with that.

I also want to acknowledge that I might lose some followers for posting this.

That’s okay too.

Because what I see in my office, especially working in a rural community, is this:

🌈 A lot of young LGBTQ+ folks are struggling quietly.
🌈 Not always loudly. Not always visibly. But deeply.

Mental health disparities for LGBTQ+ young people are not just opinions or political talking points. They are documented, consistent, and deeply concerning.

Research keeps showing the same thing over and over again:

LGBTQ+ teens and young adults are more likely to deal with thoughts of su***de and self-harm than their peers.

One large national survey found that:

🌈 more than 4 in 10 LGBTQ+ youth seriously considered su***de in the past year
🌈 over half of transgender and nonbinary youth reported those thoughts

Those numbers are hard to read. They’re even harder to sit with when you’re the one hearing the stories behind them.

And I want to be very clear about something.
Being LGBTQ+ is not what causes this pain.

What makes the difference is what happens around them.

Feeling rejected. Feeling unsafe. Feeling like they have to hide. Feeling like there isn’t a place for them.

On the flip side, I also see what helps:

🌈 one adult who “gets it” and doesn’t shut them down
🌈 friends who are safe
🌈 spaces where they don’t have to constantly explain themselves
🌈 just being believed and taken seriously

Those things matter more than people realize.

I worry a lot about LGBTQ+ youth in rural communities. Because access to support can be limited, and sometimes it can feel like there’s nowhere to really land if you’re struggling.

I’m not posting this to argue or convince anyone of anything.

I’m posting it because I work with real teens and young adults.

And I care about them staying here.

If this post sits uncomfortable with you, I get that.

But I also hope it makes space for a simple question:

Who in your life might need a little more safety, softness, or someone willing to just listen without shutting them down?

Pride Month isn’t just about celebration.

For some people, it’s also about survival and finding places where they actually feel safe and seen.

You don’t have to fully understand someone to offer support. You just have to be willing to listen with curiosity and care.

05/31/2026

🌸 Need a little mood boost? Research shows that simply looking at flowers can increase positive emotions and give your brain a small dopamine lift.

Support your mental health and a local business at the same time by following Willow Farms for some beautiful fresh blooms. Sometimes the simplest forms of self-care are right in front of us. 💐

05/30/2026

If you're looking for a massage therapist, I highly recommend Lisa Scrogin at Salon 322 Downtown in Moberly! I've been going to her for over 10 years and wouldn't go anywhere else. She does a great job every time. Just don't fill up her books too much, or I won't be able to get in! 😊

Let’s Welcome our newest Co-Worker! We are so excited to have her join our team. Text or call her to book.

05/29/2026

Yay!!! New website coming soon!!

05/28/2026

I’ve been encouraging clients lately to lean into the playful, whimsical, childlike parts of themselves, and this feels like the perfect way to do it!

And for all my fellow millennials out there: remember how exciting it was to earn your very own personal pan pizza? 🍕📚✨

Who remembers BOOK IT? Ya know, the summer reading thing where you could get your own lil Pizza Hut pizza....
Well, this is kinda like that 😏 but way cooler because it's local!

Meet the Bloom & Bindings Summer Reading Program for kids....& adults! (insert Jonah Hill screaming meme here 😂) That's right, ADULTS TOO!!
All you need to do is stop in to grab your Summer Reading Program list/tracker & complete the tasks on it between June 1 - August 15. Once you've completed it & filled out all your info, turn it back in to Bloom & Bindings-
Kids will be entered to win 1 of 10 vouchers for a free small shaved ice from Sno Biz & Adults will be entered to win 1 of 5 Breadeaux Pizza gift cards!

I mean, you're reading already, you deserve to get a reward for it 😉

05/26/2026

Mental health maintenance > mental health crisis management. 💙

01/24/2026

I’ve been a little quiet over here lately, and it’s for a good reason. I’ve been busy! This weekend feels like a great time to slow things down. What are you doing to rest and relax during this cold snap?