BIO

After graduating with a Bachelors of Arts in Sociology from Gordon College, Ashley moved to Utah to work in the wilderness therapy industry with At-Risk Adolescents. This sparked a passion in aiding/supporting young people and their families in all levels of crisis or challenge. During her stint in wilderness therapy, Ashley utilized the wilderness, groups and family therapy in the healing of challenging circumstances and conflict. She also gained experience in parent and youth in reunification at the transitional program before departure from therapy. She spent 4 years training other employees in therapeutic principles, behavior modification, wilderness utilization in creating confidence and appropriate challenge as well as de-escalation techniques and empowerment of youth.

Ashley completed her Masters of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Southern Maine. There she also earned a Specialization in Couples and Family Systems with a 500 hour internship in Family Therapy with New England Family Institute. Ashley also completed 1000 hours of clinical work within the University’s Health and Counseling Center. There she helped found the Recovery Oriented Campus Center - ROCC’s initial programming. Ashley also worked as an assistant to the counseling department chair, aiding in research, teaching and writing, and within the BASICS program utilized harm reduction with student’s interacting with the Student Conduct Department for substance abuse challenges.

Throughout her time in graduate school, Ashley co-founded a hybrid residential and wilderness therapy program for Young Adults in Vermont, which utilizes mindfulness, horticulture and adventure programming in therapy.

After graduating, Ashley completed two years of service in a psychiatric inpatient hospital in Southern Maine, where she developed a biweekly training program for unit employees.

Ashley now works concurrently in behavioral health integration within a local pediatric and young adult medicine practice.