Ashlea (Taylor) Barber is an independently licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Relationship Expert, and the owner of the therapy & consulting practice Favor & Grace Under Fire and Speaking Favor and Grace, Speaking and Engagement Company. With a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and an Advanced Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy from Arizona State University, Ashlea brings over 12 years of experience in the Behavioral Health field to her practice.
Specializing in experiential techniques, Ashlea works with couples, families, and children, guiding them through life transitions, trauma, spiritual-based issues, race-based issues, and uncovering generational patterns of dysfunction, with a particular focus on working with women. Her philosophy centers on creating an environment where the systematic root of inter-and intrapersonal conflicts can be addressed, enabling clients to achieve their goals.
Ashlea is experienced in working with clients suffering from trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and individuals from various backgrounds. She thrives on the challenge and complexity that each individual brings to the therapeutic process. “I became a Marriage and Family therapist because the foundation of Marriage and Family Therapy is rooted in finding the root cause of the problem,” Barber explains. “This includes looking at the dysfunctional generational patterns within the family unit and then asking the client in front of me, ‘Do you want to change these problems/patterns in order to create an indefinite result? When the client says, YES! It’s go time,” she elaborates. Ashlea has transferred these skills to help people through theracoaching. Theracoaching combines my knowledge of therapy modalities and coaching to create plans for overcoming obstacles.
In addition to her therapy practice, Ashlea shares her expertise through speaking engagements, workshops, and training sessions nationwide. She has been featured as a therapeutic expert on news channels 3, 5, and PBS. Ashlea also lends her knowledge to organizations across the valley, facilitating trainings and workshops at behavioral health non-profits, healthcare entities, nonprofit organizations, churches, and universities.
Furthermore, Ashlea serves as a Psycho-Dynamic Clinical Consultant, directing the growth of mental health organizations in the valley. In this capacity, she develops strategic curricula, enhances program professionalism, and advises stakeholders and management on strategic leadership choices rooted in psychological principles for continued growth.
Outside of her professional pursuits, Ashlea finds joy in singing in the choir, skating, watching movies, traveling to warm tropical beaches, spending time with her husband and Frenchie, and indulging in her love for pizza. Ashlea is a proud member of the community services-based organization Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc.
She strives to create a relaxed, safe, and productive atmosphere where clients, supervisees, or attendees can feel at ease during their journey of growth and exploration with favor and grace.