Cat Beer, Doctora en Filosofía.

Psicólogo asociado

La Dra. Cat Beer es psicóloga asociada (PSB94029451) en San Diego, California, bajo la supervisión del Dr. Jacob Ambrose (PSY34639). Trabaja con adultos que enfrentan ansiedad, trauma, depresión, TDAH, problemas de alimentación y problemas de relación. Su enfoque basado en el trauma combina la terapia basada en el sistema nervioso con TCC, ACT, TCD y mindfulness para promover un cambio significativo y duradero.

Seguros aceptados: Aetna, United Healthcare y Anthem Blue Cross

You Might Be a Good Fit for Ashley If You are…

• navigating anxiety, stress, or chronic overwhelm
• struggling with depression, low motivation, or feeling stuck
• processing trauma or difficult past experiences
• working through eating concerns or body image struggles
• facing relationship difficulties or interpersonal stress
• adjusting to a major life transition
• a college student or young adult seeking support
• exploring identity, self-worth, or personal growth
• wanting to better understand your emotional patterns
• looking for therapy that is collaborative, compassionate, and practical

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Anxiety, Stress, and Life Transitions

Anxiety can make everyday life feel heavier than it looks from the outside. Many clients come to therapy because they feel overwhelmed, stuck in their thoughts, or unsure how to move through a season of change. Ashley’s work often focuses on helping clients better understand the emotional patterns, stress responses, and internal pressures that may be contributing to anxiety or difficulty adjusting. These concerns may show up as: • chronic worry or overthinking • difficulty making decisions • feeling overwhelmed by school, work, or relationships • trouble relaxing or feeling present • fear of disappointing others • uncertainty during major life transitions Ashley helps clients slow down, make sense of what they are experiencing, and develop practical strategies for managing stress more effectively. Therapy can provide a supportive space to build insight, strengthen coping skills, and move through change with greater clarity and confidence.

Trauma, Emotional Healing, and Self-Understanding

Difficult or overwhelming experiences can shape how people see themselves, relate to others, and respond to stress. Ashley has experience working in trauma-focused treatment settings and understands that healing often requires both compassion and practical support. Her work helps clients explore how past experiences may continue to influence present-day emotions, relationships, and patterns of self-protection. These patterns may show up as: • feeling emotionally overwhelmed or easily triggered • difficulty trusting others or feeling safe in relationships • feeling disconnected, numb, or shut down • self-blame or a harsh inner critic • avoiding painful memories or emotions • struggling to feel grounded in daily life Many clients know they want to heal but are unsure where to begin. Ashley takes a collaborative and strengths-based approach, helping clients understand their experiences at a pace that feels manageable while developing tools for emotional regulation, self-compassion, and personal growth.

College Students, Young Adults, and Identity Development

College and young adulthood can bring major changes in identity, relationships, responsibility, and direction. Ashley has experience working in a university counseling center and understands how overwhelming this stage of life can feel, especially when clients are trying to balance academic pressure, family expectations, relationships, independence, and questions about who they are becoming. These concerns may show up as: • academic stress or pressure to perform • uncertainty about the future • difficulty adjusting to independence • relationship or friendship stress • family pressure or changing family dynamics • questions about identity, values, or direction Ashley helps clients explore these transitions in a supportive and collaborative space. Her work focuses on helping clients better understand themselves, strengthen coping strategies, and move forward with greater clarity, confidence, and self-trust.

ADHD Testing and Neuropsychological Assessment

ADHD and neuropsychological testing can help clients better understand how their brain processes information, manages attention, regulates emotions, and responds to everyday demands. Many individuals seek testing because they have spent years feeling distracted, overwhelmed, inconsistent, forgetful, or confused by why certain tasks feel harder than they “should.” These concerns may show up as: • difficulty sustaining attention or staying organized • procrastination or trouble starting tasks • forgetfulness, distractibility, or losing track of details • emotional overwhelm or frustration with performance • difficulty following through despite strong intentions • academic, work, or daily functioning challenges Ashley provides psychological and neuropsychological assessment services under the supervision of Dr. Tilbe Ambrose, PhD, PSY36072. Her assessment work is designed to help clients gain a clearer understanding of their cognitive, emotional, and behavioral patterns while identifying practical recommendations that can support functioning at school, work, and in daily life. Testing can be especially helpful for individuals seeking diagnostic clarity, academic accommodations, workplace accommodations, or a deeper understanding of strengths and challenges. Ashley’s approach is thoughtful, collaborative, and strengths-based, helping clients move away from shame and toward clearer insight, self-understanding, and next steps.

Ashley’s Approach to Therapy

Ashley takes a warm, collaborative, and strengths-based approach to therapy. She believes that therapy should be a space where clients feel supported, understood, and empowered to explore the patterns that may be shaping their emotions, relationships, and sense of self. Rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach, Ashley works with each client to better understand their unique experiences, strengths, challenges, and goals. Her work often focuses on helping clients slow down and make sense of what is happening internally. This may include exploring emotional patterns, stress responses, relationship dynamics, identity questions, or the ways past experiences continue to influence present-day life. Ashley helps clients build insight while also developing practical strategies they can use outside of therapy. Ashley’s style is thoughtful, compassionate, and grounded. She creates a therapeutic environment where clients can feel safe being honest about what they are experiencing without fear of judgment. Her goal is to help clients feel more connected to themselves, more confident in their ability to navigate challenges, and more equipped to move toward meaningful personal growth. At Restore Psychology, Ashley’s approach aligns with the belief that therapy is not only about reducing symptoms, but also about helping clients understand themselves more deeply. Through collaboration, curiosity, and practical support, she helps clients build greater self-awareness, emotional resilience, and clarity in the areas of life that matter most to them.

Professional Background

Ashley Santana, M.A., is a doctoral student in Clinical Psychology at the California School of Professional Psychology in San Diego, California. She is currently completing her PhD and anticipates graduating in 2028. At Restore Psychology, Ashley provides therapy and psychological assessment services under the supervision of Dr. Tilbe Ambrose, PhD, licensed psychologist PSY36072. Ashley has received clinical training across a variety of settings, including higher levels of care, university counseling, individual therapy, group therapy, and psychological assessment. She previously worked in a women’s trauma-focused PHP/IOP program, where she facilitated group therapy, provided individual therapy, and conducted comprehensive neuropsychological assessments. In this role, she supported clients navigating trauma, emotional distress, anxiety, depression, and complex life stressors. Most recently, Ashley worked at the University of San Diego Counseling Center, where she provided therapy to college students experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship difficulties, academic stress, identity concerns, and major life transitions. This experience strengthened her interest in supporting young adults as they navigate personal growth, emotional challenges, and questions about identity, direction, and belonging. Ashley’s background in both therapy and assessment allows her to bring a thoughtful, well-rounded perspective to her clinical work. She is committed to helping clients feel understood, supported, and empowered as they build insight, develop coping strategies, and move toward meaningful change.

Working with Ashley

Ashley works with adults and young adults who are interested in better understanding themselves, developing healthier coping strategies, and creating meaningful change in how they navigate stress, relationships, identity, and life transitions.

Many clients appreciate her warm, collaborative, and strengths-based approach, as well as her ability to help them make sense of emotional patterns that may have previously felt confusing, overwhelming, or difficult to change.

Ashley may be a good fit for clients seeking support with anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship difficulties, college student mental health, identity development, life transitions, ADHD testing, or neuropsychological assessment.

If you are interested in working with Ashley, our intake coordinator can help determine whether her approach may be a good fit for your goals.

To get started, fill out the contact form below, and our team will help guide you through the next steps.