Meet Dr. Megan Mansfield

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dr. Megan Mansfield and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dr. Megan, how does your business help the community?
When I began Ash & Blooms Holistic Psychotherapy, I knew I wanted my practice to be a place where social justice values aren’t just buzzwords but the foundations of care. The truth is, so many issues that we deem personal issues are actually reasonable responses to oppressive systems. At Ash & Blooms, we are committed to serving those who have been marginalized or targeted by these systems.

Some may think this is a standard of care, but unfortunately, there’s a lot of debate about whether politics should show up in the therapeutic process. My team and I are firm believers that it’s, not only nearly impossible, but actively harmful to attempt to avoid. That’s why one of the core values at Ash & Blooms is social justice. We do not shy away from acknowledging how politics, social norms, and systemic inequities shape mental health, and I get to witness how that creates a deeper sense of safety, trust, and validation.

I believe there’s a really beautiful ripple effect that can come from healing and empowering those who have been told to stay small or compliant. Not only are we able to help folks on a personal level, but our work can have a positive impact on the greater community. A transwoman feeling more confident in her own skin helps others to feel valid in their identities, a single mother who is breaking the cycle of violence is more likely to raise a compassionate member of society, a Black woman who learns to take up space in the writer’s room can lead to more representation in media, and so on and so forth.

We don’t only show up for our clients with this in mind, but we also engage with our community directly — attending pride events, charity galas, and making donations to organizations that align with our values. It’s a pleasure and an honor to get to serve the community, and it’s something I take a lot of pride in.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Ash & Blooms Holistic Psychotherapy is a boutique practice of trauma therapists with shared values and an expertise in justice-oriented holistic trauma therapy. After a decade of working with clients, I envisioned a practice in which trauma treatment extended beyond traditional talk therapy and was instead rooted in healing the brain and body, and in which social justice and cultural competence were deeply embedded into care. It was also important to me to move away from the sterile or clinical feel and create a brand that felt truly soulful and connected to Mother Nature. From this vision, Ash & Blooms was born.

Shifting from a vision to a thriving practice was far from easy. Once again, I found myself working late and learning difficult lessons. With minimal background in business, I relied on consultation, online forums, and articles written by various professionals to put the pieces together. Something I learned along the way was how to delegate. A quote I live by is, “I can do anything, but not everything.” As an independent woman, I had to admit to myself that I couldn’t do this all on my own. I now have an awesome team of professionals whom I can rely on to help me keep the practice running so that I can lean into my strengths as a trauma therapist and supervisor. With that said, I have also really enjoyed using my background in marketing and my creativity to present California with a brand that feels truly special.

Overall, I’m proud of what my team and I have accomplished. I’m also really excited to keep learning and see how Ash & Blooms can continue to grow while remaining true to our core values.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Let me start by saying I genuinely love Los Angeles. I feel a deep connection to the culture, the people, the nature… and the weather isn’t bad either. Diversity makes Los Angeles special, so when a friend visits, I do my best to let them experience as many different corners of this city as traffic will allow. We’ll have dinner at Bone Kettle or brunch at Rose Garden Tea room at the Huntington in Pasadena, we’ll spend a night out in West Hollywood, spend some time in K-Town eating KBBQ and playing games at Blipsy, go to a show at the Hollywood Bowl or something more intimate at the Teragram Ballroom, go bowling at Highland Park Bowl, visit a museum like the Broad or LACMA, and of course, spend some time at the beach in Malibu or Santa Monica. If they’re up for an overnight stay out of town, we may explore Joshua Tree or Idyllwild. Needless to say, friends are thoroughly well-fed and entertained when they visit!

Website: ashandblooms.com

Instagram: @ashandbloomstherapy

Image Credits
My headshots: Shannon M West Photography