Today we’d like to introduce you to Deborah Ashway.
Hi Deborah, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’m Deborah Ashway, and honestly, I never planned on a career in mental health, not even close. Becoming a therapist was nowhere on my radar.
I grew up in South Florida, where life was all about the beach, friends, surfing, music, photography, film, piano and art. I studied architecture at the University of Florida and fell in love with design. Then I met my (now former) husband, who worked in film and video production, and that opened an entirely new path for me.
We moved to North Carolina and, over the next decade, built both a production company and a family. We had three kids, and I loved every part of being a mom and creating meaningful film and video projects. One of our documentaries, on domestic violence, ended up on national PBS. That project changed me. I interviewed the battered but healing wife, while my husband spoke with her abusive husband who had just been released from jail. It opened my eyes to how complex these situations are and how rational, intelligent people can actually end up caught in this type of situation and cycles of pain and fear.
A few years later, my own marriage started falling apart. The business was struggling, finances were tight, and I had three young children. During that time, I created a small project to help my oldest learn sight words where I set the words to music and made a video. A friend encouraged me to sell it on eBay, and it unexpectedly took off. That’s how Kid 2020 was born, and it helped sustain us through some tough years. But when my marriage fell apart, so did that business, and I found myself starting over from scratch.
Suddenly, I was a single mom with three little ones and no clear plan. I took a part-time job making smoothies for eight dollars an hour while the kids were in school. But I knew that wasn’t sustainable. I decided to go back to school for my master’s in Rehabilitation Counseling, because it seemed to hold some answers to things that had baffled me. I needed to rebuild, both financially and emotionally.
Two years later, I graduated and began working as a therapist, initially just to make ends meet. But the more I worked, the more I learned about myself and my own family history. I realized I had something meaningful to offer because I’d lived through so many of life’s challenges firsthand.
After working in community and government settings, I opened my private practice in 2017. It started small with just me, and then I hired another clinician and then brought on an intern. We grew together, adding more therapists and an administrative team. Eventually, we outgrew our space and made the leap to purchase our own building.
Today, we’re continuing to grow. We’re bringing on more students, expanding into group work, and integrating alternative healing practices like acupuncture, sound therapy, meditation, and reiki.
It’s been a winding path from architecture to film to therapy, but every step led me to exactly where I was meant to be at this moment.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Has it been easy? Not at all! It’s been anything but smooth. But I’ve learned that the hardest seasons are often the ones that shape you the most.
There were times when I truly didn’t know how I was going to make it financially. After my marriage ended and the production company fell apart, I was suddenly on my own with three young kids, trying to figure out how to start over. I went from running a business to a minimum wage job just to get by. It was humbling to make smoothies at 5AM with a degree in Architecture, let alone having once created and run a successful business. It was a hard hit. And there were plenty of nights I would lay awake wondering how we would make it through.
Going back to school as a single mom was another mountain to climb with balancing classes, kids, and a crumbling sense of security. But that period also taught me how strong I really was. Even after becoming a therapist, building a practice came with its own hurdles, like long hours, uncertainty, and a steep learning curve.
When I started Inner Source Therapy, that brought its own set of challenges. I had to learn everything from scratch, including hiring, management, all of it, and it wasn’t always smooth sailing. I trusted the wrong people a few times, had employees who weren’t honest, and made financial mistakes that set me back more than once. Those experiences were painful but also incredibly valuable. They taught me how to protect my business, listen to my instincts, and keep moving forward even when things didn’t go as planned.
But little by little, things started to take shape. Every setback forced me to grow, to be more resourceful, and to trust myself more deeply.
So no, it definitely hasn’t been smooth or easy, but every challenge, every misstep, and every lesson along the way has made me a better therapist, a stronger business owner, and given me skills I otherwise would not have today.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Inner Source Therapy is a mental health practice rooted in the belief that real healing begins from within. We help individuals, couples, and families connect with their inner strength and move toward genuine emotional and relational well-being. Our approach blends traditional psychotherapy with a deep respect for creativity, connection, and holistic healing.
We specialize in trauma recovery, anxiety, depression, relationship issues, and life transitions. But what truly sets us apart is the way we approach the therapeutic process. We see therapy not just as symptom management, but as a path to rediscovering who you are at your core and returning to your most authentic self. Our clinicians are deeply compassionate, highly skilled, and dedicated to helping clients heal in an environment that feels safe, warm, and deeply human. We’ve all had our share of struggles, and we get it.
Over time, we’ve grown from a solo practice into a thriving team of highly skilled clinicians, interns, and support staff. We recently purchased our own building to expand our space and create a more restorative environment for both clients and clinicians. This new chapter allows us to offer not only therapy but also holistic services like sound healing, meditation, acupuncture, and reiki, all designed to support mind-body wellness.
What I’m most proud of, brand-wise, is that Inner Source Therapy has always stayed true to its mission: creating a space where people feel seen, heard, and empowered to heal. Our mission is to provide an enriched and supportive environment that encourages emotional healing, health, and wellness while enhancing a sense of empowerment for each individual. We are committed to promoting self-discovery and personal growth by guiding our clients to live in harmony with their true nature, enabling them to become the best version of themselves.
We’ve built a culture that values authenticity, collaboration, and the belief that even the most painful experiences can and often do become a source of strength and life transformation. What I want readers to know is that Inner Source Therapy isn’t just about therapy; it’s about going within, growth, connection, and helping people find their way back to themselves. Healing is possible, and it starts by turning inward. Healing starts from within.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
I would have to say that one of my favorite childhood memories is when I was little, to those magical years before I turned eight, growing up in a neighborhood that felt like its own little world. Every October, when the air turned crisp and the leaves turned bright shades of gold and red, the entire neighborhood would gather for a giant bonfire. It wasn’t just an event. It was a tradition, something we all looked forward to all year long.
All the neighborhood kids were, in my mind, my very best friends. Our parents were friends too, which made it feel like one big family. In the weeks leading up to the bonfire, my friends and I would dream up elaborate plans for what we’d do “this year.” One year, we decided we’d build an airplane and fly it at the bonfire; a grand debut that would amaze everyone as we flew around them over the neighborhood. In reality, we only managed to cut out cardboard wings and gather a box that refused to hold the wings, but to us, it still felt like pure genius, like anything was possible.
I remember most vividly the smells and sounds; the scent of burning wood, the chill of the air, the leaves, and the sounds of laughter and music. The firelight reflected across everyone’s smiling and laughing faces. The time seemed to stand still. It is a memory of imagination and innocence and of feeling completely safe, free, and part of something bigger. I always try to remember that feeling because today I believe it’s so important to remain open to possibility.
Pricing:
- Sessions are covered by most insurances.
- Private pay 60 min. sessions are $140
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.InnerSourceTherapy.com
- Instagram: inner_source_therapy
- Facebook: innersourcetherapy
- Youtube: @innersourcetherapy4520
- Other: podcast: Healing From Toxic Abuse
