Why I'm Moving to a Fully Virtual Practice
There's something I want to share with you, partly because transparency matters to me, and partly because I think the story behind it might resonate with some of you more than you'd expect.
This October, I'm transitioning to a fully virtual practice.
It's the right move. It's also bittersweet. And I've been sitting with both of those things at once.
What's Changing — And Why
I've been seeing clients in person at my Carmel-by-the-Sea office for a while now, and those sessions have been some of the most meaningful work I've done. There's something irreplaceable about being in the room with someone — the quality of presence, the nervous system co-regulation that happens when two people are physically together. I've loved it.
And I'm also at a point in my life where I'm ready to build differently. I'm planning to relocate, to travel, to create a practice that moves with me rather than anchoring me. A fully virtual model gives me that freedom — and honestly, it gives my clients something valuable too. No commute, more flexibility, access to this work regardless of where they are in California or Idaho.
So it's not a loss exactly. It's a transition. But like most transitions, it holds both.
What Stays Exactly the Same
The work doesn't change. EMDR is as effective virtually as it is in person — bilateral stimulation works through the screen, and many clients actually find virtual sessions easier to drop into because they're in their own space. Somatic therapy translates beautifully online too, especially when clients have developed enough body awareness to track what's happening internally without in-person guidance.
While most people are surprised by this, Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy can be provided virtually too — so long as you have a person you trust close-by or in the home with you in case you need their support.
The therapeutic relationship — the thing that research consistently shows matters most — that doesn't live in a physical office. It lives in the consistency, the attunement, the trust built over time.
Why I'm Sharing This
Partly because if you've been thinking about reaching out and were waiting until you could come in person — I want you to know that virtual is the path forward for the foreseeable future. While I will be doing in-person work again, I have no idea right now where that will be. I’m a bit of a free-spirited therapist.
But also because this kind of transition — choosing something that feels right even when it requires letting go of something you love — is exactly the territory so many women are currently navigating. Holding two true things at once is not the same as being confused. It's what honest change actually looks like.
If you're in California — from Carmel, Monterey, Pacific Grove, or all the way down to San Diego in Encinitas or Carlsbad — or in the state of Idaho and ready to do the work — virtually, from wherever you are — I'd love to connect. Book a consult here.
This blog is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical or psychological advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Ashley K. Whelan is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC #11188) in California specializing in EMDR, somatic therapy, and ketamine-assisted psychotherapy for women throughout California. Telehealth available statewide and in the state of Idaho.