EST. 1990
Life can be hard enough without people suggesting you just “need more sunlight” or you should try “not wearing such depressing colours”. Life is different for each of us, and we all have our own struggles.
Like Morticia Addams famously said “normal is an illusion. What’s normal to the spider is chaos to the fly” and I think that sums up life pretty well!
Sometimes we are the spider and sometimes we are the fly.
I’m just like any other counsellor in terms of what services I can offer, qualifications and knowledge, I just also know how hard it can be to ethically source animals skulls for a bone collection, how frustrating it is when you realise your top and pants are different shades of black, the difficulty in finding naturally black plants (nature decided they don’t exist but hit me up for a list of the closest you can get as my background is in horticulture), how expensive it is try and get Disturbia clothes shipped here and silly it feels when you realise you are not talking to your cat, you’re talking to a pile of black t-shirts.
So, Who Am I?
I’m Ashley, also known as The Goth Counsellor. You can find me on Instagram at @thegothcounsellor, where I share insights, tips, and a touch of goth flair on mental health and self-discovery. The page could use some beefing up so I am always happy to hear suggestions of what you would like to see!
As a mental health advocate, and someone who embraces the beauty and depth of the gothic life, I’m here to provide a safe, empathetic, and affirming space for anyone navigating life’s challenges. My lived experience with anxiety and depression has shaped who I am and how I connect with others. I know how isolating it can feel to struggle with mental health, especially when you’re walking a less conventional path in life, even though black is such a happy colour (Morticia Addams, again).
What I Offer
Whether you’re struggling with:
• Anxiety or depression and other
mental illnesses
• Navigating your identity, self-expression
• Grief
• Feeling misunderstood or out of place
• Building confidence and resilience
• Goal setting
• Trauma
• Alcohol and Other Drugs
• Life in general!
I’m here to walk beside you. My approach is compassionate, down-to-earth, and tailored to your unique journey. I believe in creating a space where you can be unapologetically yourself—goth, queer, or anything else that makes you, you. I care about supporting and guiding you on your journey to be the best version you can be, whoever you are.
Why Goth and Mental Health
For me, being goth isn’t just about wearing black (though, let’s be real, black is everything). It’s about finding beauty in the dark, celebrating individuality, and embracing all the parts of yourself. As much as I love dyed black hair, poetry, moonlight and Nine Inch Nails, what I value more than symmetrical winged eyeliner is free thinking, acceptance and freedom of expression. These values deeply inform my work as a counsellor. I believe in helping you explore the darker, more vulnerable parts of your life while also finding the strength and beauty that lies within.
Why Work With Me?
As someone who has been in the depths of mental health struggles and come out the other side, I bring not only professional expertise but also a deep understanding of what it’s like to feel overwhelmed, lost, or just a little different. Sometimes the only way to find you light is through the darkness.
There is nothing wrong with doing things differently. The Corpse Flower (Amorphophallus titanium) only blooms once every decade – and when it does, it smells like rotting flesh. Yet, everyone lines up to marvel at its beauty that comes from it being different. It doesn’t look like other flowers; it doesn’t flower yearly like other flowers, and it certainly doesn’t smell like other flowers. Let me help you be unapologetically you, just like this like incredible flower.
And yes, I do have black cats.
Carpe Noctum,
Ashley
Get in touch! Appointment enquiries: thegothcounsellor@invictushealth.com.au