A new counseling service is treating mental health in Fayette. Ashley Swon Counseling held a ribbon cutting on October 1 and began seeing patients in August.

Swon is a familiar face in the field of mental health here. She previously worked with Angi Allphin’s Crossroads Counseling for the past three years in the Keller Building before opening her own practice there. When Allphin left for Valley Hope in Boonville, Swon opened her own counseling clinic in the same location.

“I want people to feel comfortable here,” she said.

Swon is a licensed professional counselor. She earned a Master of Science in Clinical Counseling from Central Methodist University in 2024 and became fully licensed in June.

“I got my master’s in clinical counseling, and Angi was one of my professors,” Swon explained.

She then interned with Crossroads Counseling for two years and became fully licensed in June. “I was able to start my own practice in August, and Angie was ready to close shop because she got a different job,” she said.

Swon called herself “a natural anthropologist” who has always been interested in people and their stories. At 21, she was working in a daycare and found herself helping parents through problems raising young children. She went through a divorce as an undergraduate and went to counseling herself.

She earned her bachelor’s degree in counseling from Central Christian College of the Bible in her hometown of Moberly, then spent six years with the Parents as Teachers program in the Moberly public schools. In 2021, she went back for her master’s degree at CMU, finished in 2024, and completed her internship on the way to licensure.

Swon specializes in treating women, although she works with men, teens, and couples. Most of her clients are women in their 20s through 40s facing burnout, people-pleasing, perfectionism, anxiety, and stress, often with childhood-related trauma.

“Those are who mostly seek me out,” she said. “I work with a lot of people on setting boundaries and having healthier relationships.”

She also works with teenagers, primarily through the summer when school is not in session.

“I feel like teenagers really just need somebody besides their parents that they can talk to,” she said. “And teenagers nowadays are carrying around so much stuff. There’s so much pressure, so much social media, and so much bullying. And I’m getting a lot of teenagers who are exploring their sexuality.”

Swon says kids mention to her that they wish their parents knew what kind of content is accessable to teens and kids on the internet, and they often crave more restrictions. “They’re seeing stuff they don’t need to be seeing on there.”

Millennials and Gen Xers did not grow up with the internet the way kids do now, so parents often don’t always understand what is available online to their children, she said.

While Swon is not licensed to prescribe medication, sessions are usually talk therapy, once a week for around 50 minutes. Her clinic is open Monday through Thursday, and she often stays later into the evenings on Mondays and Thursdays to see patients after work. She currently sees about 35 patients, around 15 a week, with room for more. Clients can come to the Keller Building or meet by telehealth anywhere in Missouri. She also offers walk-and-talk sessions outdoors at places such as Ricketts Lake for people who process better while moving.

“My approach is integrative. I try to meet people where they are and pull from different therapy modalities that fit whatever that person needs,” she said. “I think the relationships I have with people are one of the most effective means for change.”

Swon also treats substance abuse. While studying for her master's degree at CMU, she was awarded a fellowship through the National Board for Certified Counselors for working with people facing addiction. “I got to study addiction a little bit more in depth for a year during my graduate program,” she explained.

Primarily substances abused in Howard County include alcohol and methamphetamine, she said.

Swon’s practice does not take insurance. She accepts cash, HSA cards, and FSA cards, and she uses a sliding scale on an honor system to make counseling affordable. She offers free consultations. Bookings can be made online at ashleyswoncounseling.com or by calling (660) 676-3399.

“I want therapy to be accessible and equitable, so I try to work with people and do what I can,” she said.

Swon also contracts with the Howard County Sheltered Services Board, where she sees patients with developmental disabilities.

She said rural Missouri still does not have enough mental health providers, and that stigma keeps some people from seeking help. “I think that we don’t do a great job anywhere in our culture about what taking care of your mental health looks like. We really tell people to hustle and do more and more and put more on your plate and don’t slow down and don’t take care of yourself. Everybody struggles. I’m not afraid to tell people I go to therapy.”

Swon said one of the ways to get past the stigma of mental health is by providing free consultations. “I feel like sometimes that breaks the ice,” she explained.

She also plans to host mini workshops as another way to break down apprehension. The first is scheduled for Wednesday, October 21 and will focus on boundaries. The session is limited to five people at a cost of $30 for 90 minutes. She hopes to conduct monthly workshops on different topics. Information on future events will be posted on her Facebook page.

Swon says she hopes to become a resource for the broader community. “If local organizations, schools, businesses, or community groups are looking for someone to speak on mental health topics, provide an educational workshop, or participate in a mental health-related event, I’d love for them to reach out.”