Ackley is an associate therapist born and raised in Fremont. After attending college in Pennsylvania and working in a psychiatric facility there, he returned to the Bay Area to pursue graduate-level education. Raised in a blended and multiracial Chinese American family and having lived on the east coast for eight years, Ackley has been exposed to a wide variety of people from different walks of life, and he strives to treat every client with cultural humility and understanding.

Ackley received his Master’s of Science in Counseling Psychology with a Marriage and Family Therapy concentration from CSU East Bay. He has experience working with individuals who need help managing anxiety, depression, ADHD, and trauma, among other issues, and has worked with both adolescents in a school setting and adults in community mental health clinics.

Ackley utilizes a Person-Centered and Strengths-Based approach with the goal of creating and maintaining a safe, comfortable, and judgment-free space. Ackley also draws on CBT skills, Gestalt therapy, and DBT skills. He works closely with his clients to establish goals and support them in navigating the hurdles in life.

In session, Ackley uses an eclectic approach that draws from multiple therapeutic methods based on each client’s needs. He believes that each person has their own unique story and lived experiences and works hard to learn about and understand each client as an individual. He strives to engage with clients in an open-minded and culturally responsive way. He believes strongly in direct collaboration with clients and in being sensitive to their beliefs and desires.