Ashlyn Steffek

I grew up in Shiner, TX where I graduated from Shiner Catholic School. I earned my BSA in Human Development and Family Sciences from The University of Texas in Austin. While teaching at Yoakum High School, I pursued a MS in Professional Counseling from The University of Houston in Victoria. From 2021-2023, I gained experience working at the Emmaus Center, the Diocese of Victoria counseling center. I worked with adults, couples, teens and children, but specialized in working with youth. In 2023, I started Fortified Embrace Therapy to provide a mental health resource to our rural communities. I have loved being closer to home and am grateful to get the opportunity to give back into the community that has served and shaped me. Though I love being a counselor, my favorite titles are wife and mother. I am passionate about my Catholic faith and ultimately desire for everyone to know God’s unending mercy. I am a passionate, energetic and playful soul who deeply loves the small moments of life. I love playing sports, card games and dominoes. I enjoy nature and adventures and find great peace in admiring God’s creations. Approach I consider my clients' unique situations to understand why certain thoughts, emotions, or behaviors develop as opposed to just focusing on the diagnosis. This helps me make quality treatment plans so that clients feel comfortable moving forward. I believe the treatment process should be a collaborative effort and work with my clients to gain deeper understanding of their concerns. Spirituality In any type of therapy session, I always welcome my clients to use and deepen their spirituality when approaching their struggles. Though I deeply value and believe in my Catholic faith, I welcome clients of any faith background. As I aim to be like Christ, I meet my clients where they are in their faith journeys. Therefore, incorporating spirituality into our sessions will be on your terms and with your permission. Play Techniques & SandTray Therapy Specifically with children, I use play techniques during our sessions. As Garry Landreth said, “In the play therapy experience, toys are like the child's words, and play is the child's language.” With this in mind, I seek to meet children where they are, so they may navigate their struggles by means they know best, through play! SandTray therapy is for clients of all ages. It is a non-directive, expressive therapeutic approach that enables clients to work through difficulties without the use of words. It is an experience that helps clients better understand their conscious and unconscious selves.