Check Out Ashley Jamison, MSW, LSW, LCDCIII’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Jamison, MSW, LSW, LCDCIII.

Hi Ashley, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, you could tell our readers some of your backstory.
My story begins on the east side of Cleveland, OH, with stops in Painesville, OH, Columbus, OH, and eventually back to my roots in Cleveland. Yes, I have a Master’s Degree, and yes, I was raised on St. Clair. Both parts show up in sessions with clients.

As a kid, witnessing the negative impact of addiction and untreated mental illness in my own family and others in my community ignited my passion to help others who looked like me. Ironically, my entrance into the field of social work began at around age five. Some of my earliest memories are volunteering with my grandmother at our church, and by middle school, I became involved in a youth group called Leaders Club through the YMCA.

 

After high school, I enrolled at The Ohio State University (O-H)  and received my Bachelor’s Degree in Allied Health Professionals. In 2013, a girl’s night out, changed my entire life. Sitting across from friends, one began to share her experience of attending school online.This conversation was an ah-ha moment, as online graduate school had never crossed my mind. Later that evening, I sat in my living room, wrote a self-inventory, and researched degree programs. I started graduate school at Our Lady of The Lake University for my Master’s in Social Work a month later. I transitioned into the field shortly after finishing graduate school and began working at a community-based correctional facility. From there, I pivoted into a role that was more aligned with my concentration and focused on helping women with co-occurring disorders. In 2022, I took a leap of faith and transitioned into group private practice at Rise Counseling Group located in Dayton, OH. I am grateful as a clinical therapist, and the opportunity to positively impact others’ lives every day is genuinely fulfilling.

 

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Of course, there have been many obstacles because life is not linear. Various experiences, including a family history of addiction and untreated mental illness, a birth defect, cumulative grief, multiple rejections, and being a first-generation college student, have influenced who I am today.

Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a Clinical Therapist providing specialized therapy focused on improving the mental health and wellness of black women, teen girls, and women of color. I integrate Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and mindfulness practices to empower trauma survivors on their journey to thrive. I am most proud of my ability to help women of color take off their “Superwoman” cape and slow down. Representation is important, especially in a space that is held for healing. Bringing my authentic self into my work sets me apart from others. I am welcoming new virtual clients from Ohio and Illinois!

Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?

• Mary Bazie
• Judith Marinich
• Florestine Plair
• De’Asia L. Thompson
• Parents and brother

These women have been an integral part of my development in social work. Through their support and guidance, I have grown personally and professionally.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.psychologytoday.com/profile/931013
• Instagram: @ashleyrjamisonmsw
• TikTok: @ashleyjamisonmsw