Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Staats, PhD.
Hi Ashley, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I began my career as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Certified Sex Therapist, working with adults and couples who were often thoughtful and successful, yet struggling in ways that felt confusing or isolating. Early on, I realized I wanted to build a space that went beyond symptom management, so I founded Bellwether Counseling in Round Rock with a focus on relational depth, inclusivity, and lasting change.
As the practice grew, my perspective began to shift. I kept seeing people doing meaningful personal work in therapy while still navigating cultural, educational, and legal systems that weren’t designed with human psychology in mind. Over time, it became clear that the work couldn’t stop at the therapy room.
That realization led me to expand into education and systems-level work. I founded TalkSex Institute, which has since evolved into Relational Minds, a platform dedicated to advanced relational and sexual-health education and psychology-informed frameworks. Through this work, I’m able to expand access to ethical, research-driven training and contribute to broader conversations about how relationships are understood and supported at both individual and systemic levels.
Alongside my professional work, I’m also a mother of three, which has deeply shaped how I think about relationships, time, and sustainability. It’s reinforced my belief that meaningful systems—whether therapeutic, educational, or legal—have to work in real life, not just in theory.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It hasn’t been a smooth road, though it has been a meaningful one. One of the ongoing challenges has been learning how to grow without outgrowing what already works. Bellwether Counseling continues to thrive, but sustaining that required building strong leadership structures, trusting a capable clinical team, and letting go of the idea that success depends on constant personal presence.
One of the most difficult—and clarifying—decisions was choosing to go to law school. It wasn’t obvious or easy. I spent a long time weighing what it would mean to step into something entirely new after years of professional expertise. But when I imagined my life not taking that step, my heart would sink. It felt like turning away from work I wasn’t finished doing yet.
Over time, I’ve learned to trust a personal philosophy: when I’m aligned with the work I’m meant to do, the path opens in front of me. That doesn’t mean it’s free of struggle—but it does feel supported, almost like a red carpet slowly unfurling as I move forward. That’s how becoming a therapist felt, how graduate school felt, how building my businesses felt—and ultimately, how law school felt too.
At the same time, expanding into Relational Minds required clarity around my values, especially around time, sustainability, and family. I was intentional about designing work that allows me to be the kind of mother I want to be, rather than one stretched thin by systems that reward constant availability.
What I’ve learned is that alignment matters more than ease. Creating space for both meaningful work and meaningful presence required choosing longevity over speed and structure over hustle. That principle continues to guide how I build.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
At its core, my work is grounded in an existential approach—helping people make meaning of their lives, relationships, and choices. I’m interested in how people live with intention, how they relate honestly, and how they navigate responsibility, freedom, and connection within the systems that shape their lives. Through Relational Minds, I integrate therapy, professional education, and psychology-informed frameworks to support relational and intimacy-centered growth in ways that are practical, ethical, and deeply human.
This work includes Bellwether Counseling, a thriving group practice serving teens, adults, and couples in Round Rock and Houston. The practice also functions as a clinical training site for interns and developing therapists, reflecting my commitment to growing the field alongside serving clients. In addition, I’ve developed advanced trainings for mental health professionals, focused on modern sex therapy, relational ethics, and applying clinical insight in complex, real-world settings.
I’m known for pairing deep expertise with relatability. My work is academically rigorous, but never abstract or inaccessible. I care deeply about ethics—not as a box to check, but as a value that shapes how work is built, taught, and practiced. I’m also a collaborative leader, which means I focus on building strong teams, mentoring other professionals, and creating environments where thoughtful dialogue and shared leadership are central.
What I’m most proud of, brand-wise, is trust. People know that my work is intentional, ethically grounded, and built to last. It isn’t rushed, trend-driven, or performative. Whether someone encounters my work as a client, a clinician, or a learner, they can trust that it was created with care, integrity, and respect for complexity.
What I want readers to know is that my brand isn’t about quick fixes or one-size-fits-all solutions. Everything I offer—whether therapy, training, or education—is designed to help people make sense of their lives and relationships in a way that feels honest, sustainable, and meaningful. I’m not interested in growth for its own sake. I expand because I have to—not out of ambition alone, but because the work itself keeps asking to be built bigger. It’s an internal drive I’ve learned not to ignore.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I don’t think of myself as a risk-taker, but I do think of myself as bold. For me, boldness isn’t about chasing uncertainty—it’s about acting with clarity when something feels true, even when it’s difficult or unfamiliar.
Many of the biggest decisions I’ve made carried real risk, though they didn’t feel reckless. Building a group practice meant stepping away from the predictability of solo work and trusting others with something I cared deeply about. Expanding into education and systems-level work required allowing my professional identity to evolve beyond familiar boundaries. And deciding to go to law school meant stepping back into a beginner role after years of expertise, without a clear guarantee of how all the pieces would come together.
The decision to pursue law school, in particular, was one I struggled with. I spent a long time weighing the practical realities and the uncertainty involved. But when I imagined my life not taking that step, my heart would sink. That feeling became clarifying. I’ve learned that when I’m aligned with the work I’m meant to do, the path doesn’t necessarily become easy—but it does open. There is effort, friction, and real challenge, but it feels supported, as though the way forward reveals itself as I move.
That pattern has held true throughout my life—becoming a therapist, going to graduate school, building my businesses, and returning to school again. None of those paths were without struggle, but each carried a sense of rightness that made moving forward feel necessary rather than optional.
Ultimately, I think about risk as a responsibility. Staying comfortable when something larger is asking to be built carries its own cost. When a decision allows me to live in alignment with my values and expands my capacity to do ethical, sustainable, and meaningful work, I’m willing to move forward—boldly, even without perfect certainty.n
Contact Info:
- Website: relationalminds.org and bellwethercounseling.com
- Instagram: @relationalmindsco and @bellwether.co
Image Credits
Jennifer Willard Photography
