In Session with Ashley B.

Ashley Buckner
  • 4.8 (32)
  • MENTAL HEALTH
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

In Session with Ashley B. is a therapist-led podcast for the moments we feel seen, heard, and believed — where real conversations happen. 🌻 Each episode explores listener questions and real-life experiences around trauma, mental health, religious harm, faith deconstruction, and nervous system regulation, with nuance, curiosity, and care. Hosted by Ashley Buckner, LMFT, licensed therapist and Certified Brainspotting Practitioner in Utah and California. This podcast is educational and reflective in nature and is not a substitute for therapy.

  1. MAR 1

    Anger, Betrayal, and Choosing Yourself

    In this episode of In Session with Ashley B, Ashley Buckner returns with a candid reflection on perfectionism, religious trauma, and what it means to show up authentically even when it feels messy. She opens up about the anxiety that resurfaced after launching the podcast again and how old patterns rooted in Mormonism and religious trauma can quietly reappear. From there, the episode moves into powerful listener submissions, including questions about anger after faith deconstruction, navigating a parent’s cancer diagnosis while building your own life, divorce and betrayal after leaving the church, feeling triggered by active members, fear around group therapy, and the grief of losing a belief system once held with your whole heart.Throughout the episode, Ashley invites listeners to get curious rather than judgmental about their emotions. She reframes anger as something to be befriended rather than eliminated, explores how trauma responses can show up after leaving high control religion, and validates the deep grief and integrity struggles that often accompany faith transitions.With compassion and nuance, she reminds listeners that healing is rarely black and white. Whether wrestling with guilt, resentment, betrayal, or activation around believing family members, Ashley encourages intentional inner work, self-trust, and giving yourself permission to live authentically, even when it feels uncomfortable. Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashleyb_therapyLink for submissions: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1dXCjsH8gf8O4NvmcTvNnFeKQm7NgE5uwm1vqqKdjHSs/edit

    44 min

  2. FEB 1

    New Name. Same Heart.

    Welcome to the relaunch of my podcast, formerly known as Sunflower Movement. In this first episode of In Session with Ashley B, I introduce the new format for the show and what I’m creating moving forward a listener-driven space for honest conversations about trauma, healing, faith, and the nervous system. This episode is part personal update, part reflection, and part response to anonymous listener submissions that dive into some deeply vulnerable and important topics. I share why I decided to rebrand the podcast, what the new monthly rhythm will look like, and a few personal updates, including my recent reconciliation with my father after a period of estrangement and the impact brain spotting therapy has had on healing generational trauma. From there, I respond to listener questions and stories that explore female rage and bodily autonomy after purity culture, navigating mixed-faith marriages, and having hard conversations about belief without conflict. I also reflect on unlearning the idea that obedience equals love, processing different views of eternal families outside of LDS temple doctrine, learning self-differentiation after religious conditioning, and gently reconnecting with sexuality and sensuality after years of suppression. My hope with this episode and this new season of the podcast is to offer a space where complexity is welcome, curiosity is encouraged, and healing feels possible.Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashleyb_therapyLink for submissions: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1dXCjsH8gf8O4NvmcTvNnFeKQm7NgE5uwm1vqqKdjHSs/edit

    43 min

  3. 04/11/2025

    31: This part of the story...

    This season has been a practice in holding space—for others, for healing, for truth. I started this with a hope: that these conversations might offer light in places we don’t always look. Whether this is the last episode or just a pause in the journey, I want to say thank you. For showing up. For listening. For sitting with the nuance, the discomfort, and the beauty. No matter where this path leads next, may we keep turning toward what matters. May we keep becoming.

    16 min

  4. 04/04/2025

    30: Dr. Laura Anderson: purity culture, religious trauma, & healing

    In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Laura Anderson—a psychotherapist and author of When Religion Hurts You. Dr. Anderson specializes in religious trauma and purity culture and brings a wealth of knowledge to the conversation. We dive into the complexities of faith deconstruction, how it impacts identity and relationships, and what it means to heal after leaving high-control religious environments. Dr. Anderson also offers thoughtful responses to submissions from the audience, making this a rich and validating episode for anyone navigating their own journey. Connect with Dr. Laura Anderson: drlauraeanderson.com

    1h 15m

  5. 03/28/2025

    29: No wrong ways, just different.

    In this episode, I sit down with Carson Ireland to dive into the journey of the Sunflower Movement Podcast—why it started and what it's grown into. We explore what it means to us to stay open, both with ourselves and with others, in a world that often pushes us to pick sides. There’s no single right way—just different paths, perspectives, and possibilities. Let’s talk about it. Pranamat: https://pranamat.com/af/lnkbeapx?coup... 10% off code ashleyb Armracolostrum:https://tryarmra.com/ASHLEYBUCKNER 15% off code ASHLEYBUCKNER Cozy Confidence: 10% off ashleyb https://www.cozyconfidence.com?aff=395&staycozy

    1h 13m

  6. 03/14/2025

    28: Embracing My Sexuality & Feeling Whole in My Relationship

    In this episode, I respond to a DM that highlights the deep-seated fears many of us carry around our bodies, desire, and relationships—especially when shaped by religious trauma. I share my personal journey in reclaiming my sexuality, how I navigate my partner’s sexuality without fear, and the ways unlearning purity culture has allowed me to feel whole. If you’ve ever felt conflicted about your own sexuality, compared yourself to others, or feared that attraction could jeopardize love, this episode is for you. Website: ashleybucknerlmft@gmail.com Sex therapist & colleague I recommend: Aimee Mortensen - Worth It Counseling Lehi, UT https://worth-it.com/about/ Here is the Tim Ferriss podcast I reference: https://open.spotify.com/episode/32ORSZyPmICqaP8suVerF9?si=J9kUat4bSrS3BRWE_6ISpA Pranamat: https://pranamat.com/af/lnkbeapx?coupon=ashleyb 10% off code ashleyb Armra colostrum: https://tryarmra.com/ASHLEYBUCKNER 15% off code ASHLEYBUCKNER Cozy Confidence: 10% off ashleyb https://www.cozyconfidence.com?aff=395&staycozy

    49 min

  7. 03/07/2025

    27: Faith Reconstruction: Recognizing Your Resilience with Mellissa Perry Hill, LPC

    Loved having Mellissa back on the podcast—her depth of knowledge and compassion for those navigating religious trauma, faith deconstruction, and reconstruction is truly unmatched. Mellissa Perry Hill, LPC, joins me for a powerful conversation where we dive into submissions from the community, unpacking the complexities of faith shifts and the resilience it takes to rebuild after religious harm. We explore the emotional, psychological, and relational challenges that come with deconstructing belief systems and discuss what healing can look like on the other side. Whether you’re in the midst of your own journey or supporting someone who is, this episode offers validation, insight, and hope. Tune into Mellissa’s previous episode https://open.spotify.com/episode/4I0MAJeVWELYzfShffe69u?si=J5FTr5F-QNur-K_nOC9Ddw Follow Mellissa on Instagram @mellissaperrytherapy For more about her services  https://inner-compass-counseling.com Pranamat: https://pranamat.com/af/lnkbeapx?coupon=ashleyb 10% off code ashleyb Armra colostrum: https://tryarmra.com/ASHLEYBUCKNER 15% off code ASHLEYBUCKNER Cozy Confidence: 10% off ashleyb   https://www.cozyconfidence.com?aff=395&staycozy

    1h 29m

  8. 02/28/2025

    26: Brainspotting continues to transform my life.

    Brainspotting continues to deeply impact my personal and professional journey. In this episode I talk about why, and the lasting effects of this powerful modality. Tune in to hear how it’s shaping my work and life in ways I never expected! Pranamat:https://pranamat.com/af/lnkbeapx?coup...10% off code ashleybArmra colostrum:https://tryarmra.com/ASHLEYBUCKNER15% off code ASHLEYBUCKNERCozy Confidence:10% off ashleyb https://www.cozyconfidence.com?aff=395&staycozy

    1h 6m
See All (33)

4.8
out of 5
32 Ratings

About

In Session with Ashley B. is a therapist-led podcast for the moments we feel seen, heard, and believed — where real conversations happen. 🌻 Each episode explores listener questions and real-life experiences around trauma, mental health, religious harm, faith deconstruction, and nervous system regulation, with nuance, curiosity, and care. Hosted by Ashley Buckner, LMFT, licensed therapist and Certified Brainspotting Practitioner in Utah and California. This podcast is educational and reflective in nature and is not a substitute for therapy.

Information

  • Creator
    Ashley Buckner
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    33
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Ashley Buckner
  • Show Website
    In Session with Ashley B.

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