Biography:​

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Ashley earned her Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Minnesota State University in 2011 and graduated from North Dakota State University in 2015 with a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Ashley also attended Oakland University for a Specialized Certificate in Animal-Human Interventions. She currently is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor in Minnesota and North Dakota. She also is a Supervisor in the state of Minnesota and oversees Birchwood Therapeutic Services internship program. Ashley is a co-founder and Vice President of the nonprofit Hoofbeats for Healing. Hoofbeats for Healing is a local organization that offers Equine Assisted Psychotherapy with the incorporation of a Mental Health Professional, a Equine Specialist, a Therapy Horse, and the client.

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Over the past 12 years, Ashley has worked with families experiencing domestic violence and survivors of abuse. She is has attended multiple trainings to be able to offer trauma informed care to her patients. She has completed Maternal Mental Health Intensive Training through Seleni to treat Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders, and Perinatal Loss and Grief. Ashley is trained is Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT or Tapping) and is currently training to be able to offer Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) to the clients she serves. She is very passionate about women empowerment and enjoys helping women become the person they have always imagined themselves to be. Ashley uses techniques that involve Relational Cultural Theory, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Emotional Freedom Technique, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and Animal Assisted Therapy with Canines and Equines.

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In 2020 Ashley and her husband suffered the loss of their daughter, Adelyn shortly after her birth. Being a mental health provider she sought out counseling options and saw a lack of mental health services surrounding perinatal services especially services surrounding specifically pregnancy, infant, and child loss. It was from this loss that sparked the creation of Addie's Angels in honor of Adelyn Rose Thompson.