We had the good fortune of connecting with Ashley Gilmore and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I am a mental health professional. What sets me apart is my authenticity.. I am myself in every relationship I am in. I show up as the homegirl but also the professional therapist. People seem to appreciate the realness and it allows them to be less guarded in our time together. My work as a therapist can be difficult- having to create content to engage but also so that people feel valued in the social media space can be hard- but somehow, it is working. As a therapist, I am most proud of people who actively engage in the therapeutic process and want to do and be different or healthy, should I say. Going to therapy takes courage and I am so excited for those that do it with intent on healing.
Securing my business has been ok- not hard but not easy. There are a lot of early mornings and sleepless nights as an entrepreneur. There are days when I am too tired to do anything, yet I still have to show up. I equate owning a business to being a parent- you work endlessly to produce something that is helpful and beneficial to the world, at all costs. That is how I see my practice.
I want the world to know that it is not easy being a Black woman in business. While funding is available, it is limited and there are specific guidelines that must be followed. It is still a ‘who you know’ world and that can be frustrating and hard.
Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
In our city
We would visit Alley 26 for Dinner on Friday evening.
We would visit It’s A Southern Thing for Saturday brunch for bottomless mimosas
We would go to the NC Art Museum in Raleigh to visit the Ruth E. Carter and Van Gogh Exhibits
We would go to a Durham Bulls Game
We would visit Peace and Saints in Raleigh for a nice, young vibe
We would take in the beautiful scenery at Duke Gardens
We would also go axe throwing and workout with Grant, our trainer, lol
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to dedicate this series to my husband, daughters, mother, friends and my dog :).
Website: www.gilmorecounseling.com
Instagram: @getreatlwithashg
Linkedin: Ashley D. Gilmore
Facebook: Gilmore Counseling & Consulting Services, PLLC
Other: TikTok- @ashdgil
Image Credits
Photocredit- J. Newkirk Photography