won’t you celebrate with me
by Lucille Clifton
won't you celebrate with me
what i have shaped into
a kind of life? i had no model.
born in babylon
both nonwhite and woman
what did i see to be except myself?
i made it up
here on this bridge between
starshine and clay,
my one hand holding tight
my other hand; come celebrate
with me that everyday
something has tried to kill me
and has failed.
Source: Book of Light (Copper Canyon Press, 1993)
This poem is a reflection of my life as a Black woman, therapist and survivor of a toxic family system where for most of my life I oscillated between being “The Invisible Child” and “The Black Sheep”. This poem about surviving and growing despite forces bent against you.
More and more Black women realize the impact generational trauma has had on their lives. Too many of us were raised in homes where it was the norm to be ignored and for our emotional needs to go unmet. Many of us are awakening to the ways in which our own cultural norms have harmed us during crucial developmental periods in our lives.
I’ve been there.
I didn’t have emotionally attuned role models or a healthy, consistent, positive presence to craft myself after, so I turned inward and molded myself - like a piece of clay - into who I wanted to be. Before I started my healing journey, I hid my pain, suppressed my voice, and developed a crushing inner-critic. I did not realize the mechanisms I relied on to help me survive a toxic, narcissistic family system would cripple me as I moved into adulthood.
As a therapist, I aim to help you remember that behind your scars are untold stories of survival. But most of all, I want you to know you are so much more than your survival story too. You deserve restoration, healing and peace. You may have been without a model, but you can mold an extraordinary life.
What a beautiful thing to stand tall and say, “I have survived.”
So, Won’t You Celebrate With Me?
About Me
Tiffany Ashe, C.Ht, MPH, MSW, LCSW
Greetings & Welcome
I’m Tiffany Ashe, a holistic psychotherapist, EMDRIA Certified EMDR Therapist, Reiki Master and Board-Certified Hypnotherapist. I believe that everyone’s view of their own world and ability to manage it should be trusted and celebrated. I don’t see my role in your life as an expert or leader; I allow you to use your own understanding of your experiences as a platform for healing. You have the power to find the best solutions for yourself and make suitable changes in your life. My job is to help you harness that power. I believe the personal is political and it is critical to address the ways in which systems hurt individuals as part of the overall treatment process.
This approach ensures that you develop a strong capacity for healing and growth long after therapy is over.
What I’m Known For
Helping first-generation folx heal the wounds from childhood emotional neglect and abandonment as a result of growing up in toxic family systems
Assisting BIPOC women to achieve inner liberation in a world systematically designed for her oppression and suppression.
Teaching frazzled and overwhelmed women how to bring peace and enlightenment into their daily life.
Using holistic mind/body approaches that help you heal from the inside out.
Being a life-long learner who approaches every client with a beginner’s mind.
Having a relaxed, down to earth approach to therapy and working with clients.
Training & Experience
Bachelor of Science - The Pennsylvania State University
Master of Public Health - The City University of New York at Brooklyn College
Master of Social Work - The Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College
Post-Master's Certificate in Clinical Assessment and Diagnosis - New York University
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) - NC #C011605
EMDR Trained through the Institute for Creative Mindfulness (EMDR Certification In Progress)
200hr YTT completed - Skill in Action Yoga Teacher Training Program
Certified KORU Mindfulness Teacher
Board Certified Hypnotherapist (C.Ht) - The American Board of Hypnotherapy
Reiki Master (Usui Shiki Ryoho) - Attuned by Susan Melchione, MSW
Mindfull or Mindful?
The altered spelling of mindful in my logo is no mistake. I chose to use “full” instead of the proper spelling because most clients come in with a mind full of decisions, beliefs, opinions, to-do lists, issues, and problems. I don’t pretend to be a zen guru; I understand and empathize with having your mind stuffed with so much you feel like it could burst. In our work together, I’ll help you live more mindfully, so you can experience the happiness and freedom you desire.
“What I Hear, I Keep”
The matie masie (pronounced MAH-TEH MAH-SEE-EH) in my logo is an adinkra symbol represented by four linked ears. It translates to "what I hear, I keep" and serves to remind us of the importance of listening, understanding, and communicating. As a therapist, I take my job as the listener and keeper seriously. My approach is non-authoritative; I listen without judgment, acknowledge your experience, and guide you without interrupting or interfering with your process of self-discovery.
