Biography
Wendy Ashley, Psy.D, LCSW, Professor and Acting Chair of the Social Work Department, joined the CSUN faculty in Fall of 2008. Dr. Ashley received her doctorate in Clinical Psychology (Psy.D.) from Ryokan College and her MSW from the University of Southern California. She has been a Licensed Clinical Social Worker since 1998 and has over twenty-five years of micro, mezzo and macro social work experience. Dr. Ashley maintains certifications in Diversity and Inclusion Practices from Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).
Dr. Ashley is the author of multiple publications; speaks at conferences nationwide and internationally; maintains a trauma informed, anti-oppressive private practice and provides antiracist training and consultation for multiple community agencies. She specializes in deconstructing intersectional oppression, privilege and racialized trauma to promote healing. Her pedagogical acumen centers on conducting and facilitating antiracist, culturally relevant research and practice with marginalized individuals and communities. Dr. Ashley’s research interests emphasize the promotion of justice, equity, diversity and inclusion in clinical practice, education and organizational culture. She is passionate about social justice advocacy, and infuses an intersectionality lens in her teaching, practice, training and research.
Education
- Psy.D., Ryokan College, Clinical Psychology
- MSW, University of Southern California
- BA, University of California, Riverside, Psychology
Post Doctoral Education
Psychobiological Approach to Couple Therapy (PACT)
The PACT Institute
Training completed: June 2022
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
EMDR International Association (EMDRIA)
Training: February 2017
Certification: February 2019
Certification in Diversity and Inclusion Practices in HR
Emphasis on Human Resources Creating Inclusive Workplace Environments
Cornell University, School of Industrial and Labor Relations
August 2018
Publications
Curry, M., Lipscomb, A. E., Ashley, W. & McCarty-Caplan, D. (2022). Black Barbershops: Exploring Informal Mental Health Settings in the Community. Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences Studies, p. 60-69. DOI: 10.32996/jhsss.2022.4.1.6
Ashley, W. (2021). Navigating The Strong Black Woman Schema in Treatment Settings. LA Psychologist, Winter Edition. https://www.lacpa.org/the-los-angeles-psychologist-magazine.
Lipscomb, A. E., Ashley, W. & Marks, S. (2021). Mis-bereavement of the Formerly Incarcerated Black Man. Journal of Sociology and Social Work, 9(2), 46-56. DOI: 10.15640/jssw.v9n2a2.
Ashley, W. & Lipscomb, A. (2021). JEDI Supervision: Just, Equitable, Diverse and Inclusive Clinical Supervision for African American Clinicians in White Spaces. The Los Angeles Psychologist, Spring 2021.
Lipscomb, A. E. & Ashley, W. (2021). A Critical Analysis of the Utilization of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Psychotherapy with African American Clients. Journal of Human Services: Training, Research, and Practice, 7(1).
Ashley, W. & Lipscomb, A. E. (2020). Addressing racialized trauma utilizing EMDR and anti-racist psychotherapy practices. Go With That Magazine. EMDR & Racial Trauma, Fall 2020, 25(3). EMDRIA. Org.
Ashley, W. & Robertson, R. (2020). Trans-Attraction: Not kink or fetish but a legitimate sexual orientation. Open Journal of Social Sciences, 8(10). DOI: 10.4236/jss.2020.810014.
Lipscomb, A. E. & Ashley, W. (2020) Surviving Being Black and a Clinician During a Dual Pandemic: Personal and Professional Challenges in a Disease and Racial Crisis. Smith College Studies in Social Work. DOI: 10.1080/00377317.2020.1834489.
Ashley, W., Baker Griffin, A. & Lipscomb, A. E. (2020). Risky Business: Identification, Assessment and Management of Risk Factors in Clinical Practice. Journal of Social Work Education and Practice, 5(4), 16-31.
Curiel, L. & Ashley, W. (2020). Team teaching in social work education: A pedagogical approach to modeling inclusion. Journal of Sociology and Social Work, 8(1), 40-47. DOI: 10.15640/jssw.v8n1a4.
Nestleroad, J. & Ashley, W. (2019). From Social Worker to Social Worker: MSW Mentorship Outcomes. International Journal of Higher Research, 4 (1). DOI: 10.5430/irhe.v4n1p1.
Decker, J., Brown, J. C., Ashley, W. & Lipscomb, A. (2019). Mindfulness, Meditation and Breathing Exercises: Reduced Anxiety for Clients and Self Care for Social Work Interns. Social Work with Groups. DOI: 10.1080/01609513.2019.1571763.
Lipscomb, A., Ashley, W. & Riggins, J. (2019). Sexual Healing: How Racialized Black Males Use Sex to Cope with Stress, Loss and Separation. International Journal of Higher Research. https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=4134&context=jssw.
Decker, J., Park, H., Ashley, W., & Bame, C. (2018). How the legal status of undocumented students affects their access to higher education, public health and mental health services. Journal of Education and Social Policy, 5(2).
Ashley, W. & Lipscomb, A.E. (2018). Culturally Affirming Clinical Supervision in Graduate Field Education: Enhancing Transformative Dialogue in the Supervisory Dyad. International Research in Higher Education, 3 (3). DOI: 10.5430/irhe.v3n3.
Lipscomb, A. & Ashley, W. (2018). Black male grief through the lens of racialization and oppression: Effective instruction for graduate clinical programs. International Research in Higher Education, 3, 2, 51-60. DOI: 10.5430/irhe.v3n2p51.
Ashley, W., Decker, J. T., Sadzaglishvili, S. & Priebe, N. (2018). Enhancing the science of social work and expanding social work research in transitional countries. Journal of Sociology and Social Work, 5, 2, 20-28. DOI: 10.15640/jssw.v5n2a3.
Ashley, W. (2017). Black eyes matter: Nuances of intersectionality and their impact on inclusion and support. Journal of Sociology and Social Work, 5, 1, 115-121. DOI: 10.15640/jssw.v5n1a11.
Lipscomb, A., Mountz, S. & Ashley, W. (2017). From the teachers’ perspective: Exploring ways to navigate transformative dialogues about microaggressions in social work higher education. International Research in Higher Education, 2, 3, 50-59. DOI: 10.5430/irhe.v2n3p50.
Lipscomb, A. & Ashley, W. (2017). Colorful disclosures: Identifying identity based differences and enhancing critical consciousness in supervision. Smith College Studies in Social Work. DOI: 10.1080/00377317.2017.1324098.
Hornbeck, K., Ashley, W., & Brown, J. (2017). Posttraumatic stress disorder symptomatology and perceptions of help-seeking behavior in veterans. International Journal of Health, Wellness and Society, 6, 4, 69-79. DOI: 10.18848/2156-8960/CGP.
Ashley, W., Karnsomprot Castro, T., & Santacruz, S. (2017). Professional conflict in social worker development: Transdisciplinary challenges for women of color. Narratives of Professional Helping, 22, 1, 11-16.
Ashley, W., Tapia, J., Brown, J. C., & Block, O. (2016). Don’t fight like a girl: Veteran preferences based on combat exposure and gender. Affilia: Journal of Women and Social Work. DOI: 10.1177/0886109916685800.
Ashley, W. & Paez, J. (2015). Enhancing strengths based social work pedagogy: From cultural competence to Critical Race Theory. The International Journal of Interdisciplinary Educational Studies, 10, 4.
Ashley, W. & Brown, J. C. (2015). Attachment tHAIRapy: A culturally relevant treatment paradigm for African American foster youth. Journal of Black Studies, 1-18, DOI: 10.1177/0021934715590406.
Ashley, W. (2015). Weighty consequences: Diagnostic challenges and practice considerations associated with obesity. Cross Cultural Communication, 11: 1, 1-6, DOI: 10.3968/6085.
Ashley, W. & Brown, J. C. (2015). The impact of combat status on veterans’ attitudes toward help seeking: The hierarchy of combat elitism. Journal of Evidence-Based Social Work. DOI: 10.1080/15433714.2014.992695.
Ashley, W. (2014). The angry Black woman: Impact of pejorative stereotypes in psychotherapy with Black women. Social Work in Public Health, 29:1, 27-34, DOI: 10.1080/19371918.2011.619449.
Book Chapters
Ashley, W. & Lipscomb, A. (2022). Strategies for Implementation of an Anti-Oppressive, Antiracist, Intersectional Lens in EMDR Therapy with Black Clients. Book Chapter In: Cultural Competence and Healing Culturally Based Trauma with EMDR Therapy by Mark Nickerson, Springer Publishing Company, LLC.
Ashley, W. (2022). Nuances of Intersectionality and their Impact on Inclusion and Support for Black Women. Book Chapter In: Research Developments in Arts and Social Sciences, Volume 7. BP International. ISBN: 978-93-5547-785-9, eBook ISBN: 978-93-5547-786-6 file:///C:/Users/washley/Downloads/01.%20Ashley_2022_BP_2919C%20(2).pdf
Ashley, W., Lipscomb, A. & Mountz, S. (2020). A toolkit for collaborative safety and treatment planning with transgender youth of color. Book Chapter In: Dr. Cyndy Boyd and Dr. Joy Whitman’s The Therapist’s Notebook for Sexual and Gender Identity Diverse Clients: Homework, Handouts, and Activities for Use in Counseling, Training, and Psychotherapy.
Books in Press
Ashley, W. Merging Clinical Social Work Practice and Antiracist Positioning. Peter Lang Publishing.
Peer Reviewed Presentations
Brown, J. C, Lipscomb, A. E. & Ashley, W. “Strategies for MSW Academic Leadership Seeking to Disrupt Anti-Blackness.” National Association of Deans and Directors (NADD) Annual Conference. 4/19/2023.
Ashley, W. “EMDR as a Soul Healing Intervention for Historical, Racial and Intergenerational Trauma with African American Clients” Keynote Speaker. 2022 Parnell Institute Conference. 10/29/2022.
Ashley, W. “Contemporary JEDI’s in EMDR Treatment” Keynote Speaker. EMDRIA Virtual Conference 2021. 11/06/2021.
Ashley, W. “Culturally Responsive EMDR: Adaptations for African American Clients” Keynote Speaker. 2021 Parnell Institute Conference. 10/30/2021.
Ashley, W. “Composing a Successful Statement of Purpose” CSUN Advancement to Graduate Education (AGE) Conference. 9/11/2021.
Ashley, W. & McGill, P. “Journey of the Soul-Mind Connection.” Society for Spirituality and Social Work Conference. 6/16-18/2021.
Ashley, W. “Promoting Mental Health, Wellness and Recovery in a Dual Pandemic.” California Society for Clinical Social Work. 6/5/2021.
Ashley, W. & Lipscomb, A. E. “Facilitating EMDR with an Intersectional, Anti-Oppressive Lens.” EMDR Advanced Training and Distance Learning: Cultural Responsiveness and Addressing Cultural Trauma and Adversity in EMDR Therapy. 4/9/2021.
Ashley, W. Child Welfare and Anti-Racism Stakeholder Roundtable. 2021 CALSWEC Title IV-E Summit: Anti-Racism Series. Session moderator. 2/26/2021.
Ashley, W. & Lipscomb, A. E. “Anti-Racist Tools and Techniques for Leadership.” CSU Auxiliary Organizations Association 2021 Virtual Conference. 1/13/2021.
Ashley, W. & Lipscomb, A. E. “Equitable and Socially Just Supervision with African American Clinicians in White Spaces.” Council on Social Work Education Annual Conference. 11/19/2020.
Henderson, C., Chun, S., Lipscomb, A. & Ashley, W. “Critical Conversations: Using Critical Race Theory (CRT) to Transform Field Education.” Panel Presentation. Council on Social Work Education Annual Conference. 11/18/2020.
Ashley, W. & Lipscomb, A. E. “EMDR Therapy with an Afrocentric Critical Race Perspective”, EMDRIA Annual Conference. September 29, 2020.
Ashley, W., Chaffers, Q., Archer, D. & Hernandez, C. “The Elephant in the Room: Systemic Racism and Psychotherapy,” Panel Presentation. EMDRIA Annual Conference. September 27, 2020.
Ashley, W. “Addressing Minority Mental Health: One Day at a Time.” Panel Presentation. Painted Brain. July 30, 2020.
Ashley, W. “Racial Trauma: Perspectives and Practices for Understanding and Healing.” Panel Presentation. Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH). July 23, 2020.
Ashley, W. “Promoting Mental Health, Wellness and Recovery with Opportunity Youth in a COVID 19 Context.” The CSU5 Reconnecting ReLAY Institute’s Promoting Mental Health, Wellness and Recovery with Opportunity Youth in a COVID 19 Context Training. June 11, 2020.
Ashley, W. “Is Legal Always Ethical: Trauma informed Systems Through the Lens of Critical Race Theory.” Keynote Presentation. Center for Healthy Communities at the California Endowment. March 2, 2020.
Weiner, I., Boynes, D., Berry, V. & Ashley, W. “"Strengthening Access to Services for Families of Children with Disabilities." Cal-TASH Annual Conference. Sacramento, CA. March 6-7, 2020.
Ashley, W. “Trans-Attraction: Not Kink or Fetish But a Legitimate Sexual Orientation.” 11th Annual EDGY Conference. Keynote Presentation. Beyond the Binary. November 8, 2019.
Lipscomb, A. E. & Ashley, W. “Culturally Affirming Clinical Supervision: Enhancing Transformative Dialogue in the Supervisory Space.” NASW-CA Conference. San Mateo, CA. November 2, 2019.
Ashley, W. & Lipscomb, A. “Power, Privilege and Allyship in the Therapy Room.” California Society for Clinical Social Work. October 20, 2019.
Ashley, W. “Composing a Successful Statement of Purpose” CSUN Advancement to Graduate Education (AGE) Conference. October 8, 2010.
Mountz, S., Ashley, W. & Lipscomb, A. “Collaborative Safety and Treatment Planning with Transgender Youth of Color (TYC) in Child Welfare Settings.” Gender Conference NYC 2019. New York. May 30-31, 2019.
Ashley, W. “Trauma treatment in the African American Community: Academic, Psychiatric and Macro Systems Perspectives.” 2019 Annual Department of Mental Health African American Conference. February 28, 2019.
Ashley, W. “Attachment tHAIRapy: Case Studies Support Culturally Relevant Interventions.” Poster Presentation. 2019 Ethnographic and Qualitative Research Conference (EQRC). Las Vegas, Nevada. February 25-26, 2019.
Ashley, W. “Intersectionality in Mental Health Practice.” California Society of Clinical Social Work. February 10, 2019.
Ashley, W. & Lipscomb, A. “Culturally Affirming Clinical Supervision: Enhancing Transformative Dialogue in the Supervisory Dyad” National Association of Social Workers (NASW) 2018 Annual Conference. October 26-27, 2018.
Ashley, W. & Lipscomb, A. “Transformative Supervision in the STEM Era” Diversity Challenge. Boston College. October 18-20, 2018.
Ashley, W. “Composing a Successful Statement of Purpose” CSUN Advancement to Graduate Education (AGE) Conference. September 8, 2018.
Ashley, W. “Advanced Intersectionality, Version 2.0.” Mental Health NOW Conference. July 23 & 24, 2018.
Ashley, W. “Power and Privilege in Trauma Work.” A Window Between Worlds. June 12, 2018.
Lipscomb, A., Ashley, W. & Riggins, J. “Sexual Healing: How Racialized Black Males Use Sex to Cope with Stress, Loss and Separation.” Poster presentation. SSTAR Society for Sex Therapy and Research Annual Conference. April 21, 2018. AWARD WINNER – a) Best Empirical Research and b) Voter’s Choice.
Ashley, W. “Intersectionality in Maternal Mental Health.” Mental Health NOW Webinar (over 400 registrants). November 9, 2017.
Ashley, W. and Lipscomb, A. "Collaborative Safety and Treatment Planning with Transgender Youth of Color in Mental Health Settings.” Embracing the Diversity of GLBTQ Youth and Families (EDGY) 2017: Embracing Identities. October 27, 2017.
Ashley, W. “Giving Back but Saving Something for Self: Balancing Community Service and Wellness.” CMPC Annual Business Conference. Panel Presentation. October 26, 2017.
Ashley, W. “Composing a Successful Statement of Purpose.” Advancement to Graduate Education Conference. California State University Northridge, Graduate Studies. October 21, 2017.
Ashley, W. & Lipscomb, A. “Colorful Disclosures: Culturally Affirming Clinical Supervision with Racialized Clinicians.” The Association of Black Sexologists and Clinicians. Lifeline: Cape Town, South Africa. August 2-5, 2017.
Ashley, W. “Intersectionality in Maternal Mental Health.” Diversity, Determinants and Disparities in Maternal Mental Health Conference. Maternal Mental Health NOW, June 19, 2017.
Ashley, W. & Lipscomb, A. “Developing Cultural Humility with Families and Students in School Settings.” Los Angeles Unified School District Professional Development Workshop, March 31, 2017.
Ashley, W. & Lipscomb, A. “Colorful Disclosures: Enhancing Transformative Supervision.” Keynote Speakers for 32nd Annual Social Work Joint Symposium. March 10, 2017.
Ashley, W. & Placide, O. “Attachment tHAIRapy.” 2017 African American Mental Health Conference “Empowering Black Families and Communities through Resiliency, Restoration and Reconnection. February 9, 2017.
Lipscomb, A. & Ashley, W. “Culturally Affirming Clinical Supervision with Clinicians of Color.” Adelphi University - 12th Annual International Interdisciplinary Conference on Clinical Supervision. Long Island, New York. June 15-17, 2016.
Ashley, W. “Black Eyes Matter” and “tHAIRapy: Therapeutic Hair Care as an Ethnically Relevant Treatment Paradigm.” TWO CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS. Association of Black Sexologists and Clinicians Spring Roundtable Series. St Thomas, Virgin Islands. April 25-26, 2016.
Ashley, W. Accepted to present at international conference. “The Impact of Combat Status on Veterans’ Attitudes Toward Help Seeking: The Hierarchy of Combat Elitism.” Universidad Acuna; Madrid, Spain. September 2-3, 2015.
Ashley, W., Mountz, S. & Curiel, L. “Transformative Communication in Clinical Supervision.” Adelphi University 11th Annual International Interdisciplinary Conference on Clinical Supervision. Long Island, New York. June 10-12, 2015.
Ashley, W. “Intersecting Identities in Social Work Practice.” National Association of Social Workers San Fernando Valley Local Unit G. California State University, Northridge. February 8, 2015.
Paez, J., Ashley, W. & Mountz, S. “Walking the Walk.” CSUN Celebrating Diversity: 2015 Faculty Retreat. January 12-13, 2015.
Mountz, S. & Ashley, W. “Unsettling Norms: Challenging Models of LGBTQ Identity Development.” 6th Annual EDGY conference: Embracing the Diversity of GLBTQ Youth Families. November 14, 2014.
Ashley, W. “tHAIRapy: Therapeutic Hair Care as an Ethnically Relevant Treatment Paradigm for African American Foster Youth.” International Congress on Qualitative Inquiry Conference. Urbana, Illinois. May 21-24, 2014.
Ashley, W. “Creating a Trans-disciplinary Family Focused Autism Case Management Program.” California State University Northridge Faculty Retreat Poster Presentation. January 13, 2014.
Ashley, W. & Paez, J. “Deconstructing Social Work Education: Addressing Power and Privilege in the Classroom.” Reclaiming Multicultural Education: Fighting Back, Imagining and Building Socially Just Worlds. CSU Fullerton, CA. January 11, 2014.
Ashley, W. “Power and Privilege in Trauma Work.” End Abuse Long Beach. November 14, 2013.
Ashley, W., Rothenberg, D., Hoang, M., Andres, M. & Kaplan, N. “To “B” or not to “B”: Meeting the Bisexual Client where they are at.” Panel presentation. 5th Annual EDGY conference: Embracing the Diversity of GLBTQ Youth & Families. November 13, 2013.
Ashley, W. & Paez, J. “Racial Justice In Social Work Education: Using Critical Race Theory to Address Privilege and Power in the Classroom.” Pedagogy of Privilege Conference. Denver, Colorado. August 5-6, 2013.
Ashley, W. & Brown, J. “The Impact of Combat Status on Veterans’ Attitudes toward Help Seeking: The Hierarchy of Combat Elitism.” Poster Presentation. Fourth Annual ‘Promising Practices for Healing Psychological Trauma of Service Members, Veterans, Family and Community.’ George Mason University. Fairfax, Virginia. May 10, 2013.
Ashley, W. & Paez, J. “Reshaping Social Work Education: Cultivating Critical Consciousness through Critical Race Theory.” Western Social Science Association. Denver, Colorado. April 13, 2013.
Ashley, W. “Social Work Supervision and Cultural Diversity.” Association of Social Work Leaders in Health Care. March 25, 2013.
Ashley, W. “Unspoken: Addressing Power Dynamics in Field Instruction.“ Keynote Speaker. 28th Annual Social Work Joint Symposium. February 15, 2013.
Ashley, W., Brown, J., & Wang, L. “Flipping your classroom with Softchalk: Lessons from early Adopters.” Webinar (331 attendees). August 13, 2012.
Brown, J., Ashley, W., & Wang, L. “Flipping the Classroom with Softchalk: ABC for Early Adopters.” Annual EduSoCal conference at Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles. May 17, 2012.
Ashley, W. "Attachment tHAIRapy: A Culturally Relevant Treatment Paradigm for African American Foster Youth." 2nd Biannual International Symposium: Vulnerable Families: Cross National Perspectives on Social Welfare Issues. Champaign, Illinois. April 2-3, 2012.
Ashley, W. “Shades of Silence in Trauma: Women of Color Reclaiming Our Voices.” Panel presentation. California State University, Northridge. March 15, 2012.
Ashley, W. “The Angry Black Woman: The Impact of Pejorative Stereotypes on Psychotherapy with Black Women.” 11th annual Southeastern Conference on Cross Cultural Issues in Counseling and Education. Savannah, Georgia. February 10-11, 2012.
Videos, Media and Virtual Projects
2023 Yellow Chair Collective Podcast
a) Making space to talk about emotions in therapy – media clip
b) What is anti-racist therapy? – media clip
c) How Existential Therapy Unlocks Self Love & Anti-Racist Liberation w/ Dr. Wendy Ashley
2021 Family or Fiancé (Oprah Winfrey Network) – Trauma Expert – September 2021 [Season 3, Episode 304, Jackie and Zuri]
2021 Like Mother, Like Daughter (Discovery+) – Trauma Expert - August 14 & 21, 2021
2021 Social Impact Panelist, Candyman – Monkeypaw Productions/NBC Universal - July 2021
2021 Voices from the Edge, Podcast 1– A professor you just want to go out and have a beer with
2020 Chill Spot Radio, Podcast 8 - Black Girl Magic
2019 EDGY Keynote Speech
2019 CSUN Master of Social Work Highlight Video
2019 Family Empowerment Team in Action (FETA) Cultural Competency Videos