Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Gutierrez.
Hi Ashley, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I became a cosmetologist to support myself and my son as a single mom in 2010. I continued to work as a stylist, while going to school to get my undergraduate degree in American Sign Language interpreting and psychology. During COVID I began working for a deaf owned company who asked me to be a copywriter for their marketing department. I was successful doing marketing, especially for therapists and mental health professionals. During that time, one of my clients asked if I had ever thought of being a therapist. While I liked psychology, I didn’t have anyone in my family who had a Master’s degree. But my curiousity got the best of me, and I decided I would be interested in being able to support under-represented and maginalized people with mental health support. During my time in grad school, I found Strange Bird Salon, and I fell in love with their mission, and decided to go back into the salon as a haircutting specialist.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It hasn’t always been a smooth road, especially when I was a single mom. It was a lot of work, and honestly, if I didn’t have a supportive family, friend, and professional communities, doing the work would be impossible to reach these big goals that I have been able to reach all before turning 40.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a haircutting specialist at Strange Bird Salon, and an LPC-Associate counselor under supervision in private practice in Austin, TX. I am passionate about working with folx at the salon to ensure the hair that they have matches who they are on the inside. Hair doesn’t have a gender and I am passionate about working at a place that believes in embracing people for exactly who they are, and working in collaboration to create a look that makes them feel like themselves. I am so proud to work at a place that stands on business with these practices, and to have began building a clientele from scratch while simultaneously completing grad school for my master’s in clinical mental health counseling. Being able to approach my work in hair with the knowledge I have from my degree, and being a working therapist is a unique thing that sets me apart from others in my industries.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
I am a huge fan of books and podcasts. I love a memoir or good novel. Professionally some of my favorite resources is Trauma Stewardship by Laura van Dernoot Lipsky, and The Gift of Therapy by Jay Earley, PhD. As for podcasts, I highly recommend Good Hang with Amy Poler as an inspiring listen when you’re stuck in 35 traffic!
Pricing:
- Gender-Free and Gratuity Free Haircut Pricing $100/hr
- Sliding Scale Counseling $40-$75
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.strangebirdsalon.com
- Instagram: @cozycutsatx; @mytherapistashleysaid
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleygutierrezatx/
