Ashley Ho

Provisional Psychologist

Ashley Ho is a Registered Provisional Psychologist who believes in the quote, “People begin to heal the moment that they feel heard.” Ashley provides both psychological therapy and assessment services at Savera Medical Centre. Her registration number is P7127. She receives therapy supervision services from Pamela Thompson, Registered Psychologist, and assessment supervision services from Dr. Tracy Muth, Registered Psychologist. Ashley values a light-hearted and humorous approach in life.

Psychological Therapy Services

Respective of her therapy services, Ashley has approximately five years of experience in psychotherapy and has a passion for working with survivors of childhood trauma and different mental health concerns. Ashley helps clients experiencing intense fear, worry, avoidance, impulsivity, physical symptoms, poor self-concept, relationship problems, poorly developed life skills, fear of failure, perfectionism, self-blame, negative views about other people and life in general, neurodivergence, emotional disconnect, problematic drinking behaviours, hopelessness, work stress, emotionally driven eating behaviours, disassociation, emotional intensity, performance anxiety, intellectualization and more. Ashley asserts that sometimes, life isn’t fair, and people often try their best to manage with the tools that they presently have. She meets her clients where they are with a non-judgemental lens and unconditional positive regard.
Some of the common disorders and obstacles Ashley works with include Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), complex trauma, anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, Bipolar Spectrum Disorders, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD), Avoidant Personality Disorder (APD), performance related anxiety and alcohol dependency. Ashley is trained in multiple therapy frameworks including, but not limited to

Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT): DBT-Informed therapy is a subtype of CBT that helps clients build practical life skills respective to being present, being aware and literate of their emotions and needs, regulating and processing emotions, asserting boundaries, practicing interpersonal flexibility, social skills and conflict resolution skills, tolerating stress and extinguishing problematic behaviours

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT): CBT-Informed therapy helps clients who struggle with unhelpful thinking patterns become aware of maladaptive thinking and develop new, adaptive ways of understanding themselves, the world, other people and life as a whole. Challenging unhelpful thinking styles are supported to help in shaping adaptive behaviours, extinguish unhelpful behaviours and improve emotional well-being

Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT):
CPT is a trauma processing therapy and a subtype of CBT. It postulates that people’s perceptions of themselves, the world, other people, and life as a whole are shaped by experiences. CPT also postulates that people have a natural drive to understand their environment in order to survive in it. Primary and secondary, or manufactured, emotions are also important concepts in CPT.
Primary emotions are the natural and immediate reactions we feel in response to an event. Typically, primary emotions are predictable because most people would feel similarly. For instance, when a pet dies, people usually feel sad. Secondary, or manufactured emotions, are the later feelings that arise after an event resulting from how we made sense of it. For instance, when a pet dies, a person feels sad (primary emotion), blames themselves for their pet’s death and then feels guilt and shame (secondary emotions). How we make sense of a traumatic event can keep us stuck in trauma and PTSD. CPT allows clients to experientially work through the impact and unhelpful thought patterns of trauma to relieve symptoms of PTSD and related conditions such as anxiety and depression.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Enhanced (CBT-E): CBT-E is a subtype of CBT that helps clients struggling with different types of disordered behaviours. It involves becoming mindfully aware of eating behaviours and their associated emotions, thoughts, urges, and behaviours. Greater insight into the process of disordered eating and necessary intervention skills allow clients to make changes sensitive to their individual needs.

Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART): ART is a neurocognitive therapy procedure that helps clients who struggle with different disorders including, but not limited to, PTSD, trauma, OCD, anxiety, low self-esteem, substance and process addictions, chronic pain and more. ART combines imaginal exposure (i.e. visualizing a challenge) and eye movement. Eye movement is an evidenced-based technique that helps clients process stuck experiences using their whole brain. It helps to connect what clients feel with what they know, achieving a more balanced and whole-minded perspective on difficult issues. ART may be suitable for clients who are less talkative, verbally expressive, strong visualizers, or experience considerable physical symptoms.

Gottman Couples Therapy: Gottman couples therapy is based on Sound House Relationship Theory. From a Gottman lens, conflict and negative emotionality are natural parts of interpersonal relationships, and how such matters are handled is what really matters. Couples first complete a comprehensive relationship assessment and then build tools to help manage the day-to-day chaos, obstacles and immediate crises that threaten the relationship’s safety and ability to move forward. Couples are then guided through building a foundation of friendship, learning how to manage conflict effectively, managing core difficulties and then creating shared goals and meaning for their future.

Gottman Therapy is appropriate for many couples, including healing from infidelity. Gottman is not an appropriate choice for couples actively engaged in ongoing extramarital affairs, however. Additionally, the Gottman method values transparency, and the therapist is prohibited from keeping secrets from the other partner. Gottman is also not an appropriate therapy service for couples experiencing domestic violence. Instead, individual therapy is recommended.

Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy (ERP): ERP is also informed by CBT. It is suitable for clients with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Agoraphobia, Specific Phobia, Panic Disorder and Social Anxiety. ERP involves different kinds of exposure (imaginal, interceptive, in-vivo, etc.) and challenges clients to change their relationship with fear and anxiety. Typically, clients who complete ERP can expect varying levels of anxiety reduction. In rare instances, an estimated 4% of clients may not experience a reduction in anxiety but can still benefit from improved ways of tolerating and managing distress.

Ashley’s therapy rate is presently set at 210.00/hour. Individual sessions can range between one and one and a half hours, depending on need. ART and couples’ sessions are one and a half hours

Psychological Assessment Services

Respective of her assessment services, Ashley provides diagnostic assessments for different mental health, behavioural and educational experiences. Some of her testing services include;
Fees for assessment vary depending on individual needs. The minimum cost or base rate for a psychodiagnostic assessment is 1000.00. An individual quote can be provided after the initial consult but may be subject to revision if the client orders further testing as the assessment progresses. Assessment fees do not cover the costs associated with additional forms or paperwork, such as the Disability Tax Credit (DTC), and additional fees at Ashley’s hourly rate will apply

Psychoeducational: Psychoeducational assessments are appropriate for learners of all ages when concerns related to learning difficulties, behaviours, attention and/or academic performance are impacting life quality. A psychoeducational assessment may include some or all of the following test types: standardized intelligence (IQ) testing, academic achievement testing, visual attention deficits, auditory attention deficits, behaviour, emotional challenges and more. A psychoeducational assessment may help to identify Specific Learning Disorders (SLD), such as Dyslexia or Dyscalculia, Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and emotional and/or behavioural disorders. Psychoeducational assessments are available for learners 4 years and older, including adults.

Fees for assessment vary depending on individual needs. The minimum cost or base rate for a psychoeducational assessment is 1500.00. An individual quote can be provided after the initial consult but may be subject to revision if the client orders further testing as the assessment progresses. Assessment fees do not cover the costs associated with additional forms or paperwork, such as the Disability Tax Credit (DTC), and additional fees at Ashley’s hourly rate will apply

Giftedness: Giftedness assessments are appropriate for learners who are suspected to demonstrate exemplary cognitive ability in different domains of intelligence such as visual-spatial, fluid reasoning, verbal comprehension, working memory or processing speeds. Giftedness assessments are typically completed by young learners who are interested in applying for entry into a chartered school program or require academic accommodations to deliver appropriate challenges. A giftedness assessment typically includes standardized intelligence (IQ) testing and behavioural screening. Giftedness assessments are available to learners four years and older, including adults.

Fees for assessment vary depending on individual needs. The minimal cost, or base rate, for a psychoeducational assessment is 1000.00. An individual quote can be provided after the initial consult but may be subject to revision if further testing is ordered by the client as the assessment progresses. Assessment fees do not cover the costs associated with additional forms or paperwork, such as the Disability Tax Credit (DTC), and additional fees at Ashley’s hourly rate will apply

Twice-Exceptional (2E): 2E refers to co-occurring intellectual giftedness and either a learning disorder or a neurodevelopmental disorder. 2E assessments are appropriate for learners who are suspected to demonstrate exemplary cognitive ability in different domains of intelligence such as visual-spatial, fluid reasoning, verbal comprehension, working memory or processing speeds in addition to concurrent learning difficulty, academic difficulty, attentional difficulties and/or emotional or behavioural disturbances. A 2E assessment varies in terms of which tests are needed depending on the individual learner’s needs. A 2E assessment may include standardized intelligence (IQ) testing, academic achievement testing, auditory attention testing, executive functions screening, visual attention testing and emotional and/or behavioural screening. 2E assessments are available to learners in grade one and up, including adults.

Fees for assessment vary depending on individual needs. The minimal cost, or base rate, for a psychoeducational assessment is 1500.00. An individual quote can be provided after the initial consult but may be subject to revision if further testing is ordered by the client as the assessment progresses. Assessment fees do not cover the costs associated with additional forms or paperwork, such as the Disability Tax Credit (DTC), and additional fees at Ashley’s hourly rate will apply

Attention Deficit & Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by inattention and/or hyperactivity/impulsivity. An ADHD assessment as a stand-alone assessment is appropriate for individuals presenting with symptoms of inattention or hyperactivity/impulsivity who are not concerned with learning disorders or other diagnostic considerations. An ADHD assessment includes varying levels of mental health screening to differentiate symptoms of ADHD from other mental health concerns. An ADHD assessment typically includes testing visual and auditory attention, mental health screening, and behavioural and executive functions screening. For learners experiencing co-occurring learning or behavioural difficulties, a full psychoeducational assessment may be better suited. ADHD assessments are available for older children, adolescents, and adults.

Fees for assessment vary depending on individual needs. The minimal cost, or base rate, for a psychoeducational assessment is 1000.00. An individual quote can be provided after the initial consult but may be subject to revision if further testing is ordered by the client as the assessment progresses. Assessment fees do not cover the costs associated with additional forms or paperwork, such as the Disability Tax Credit (DTC), and additional fees at Ashley’s hourly rate will apply