About

Welcome! My name is Dr. Ashley Howell, and I am a licensed clinical psychologist. I was born and raised in Georgia, and I graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in psychology and a minor in English. I briefly worked as a project coordinator for a large-scale study, aimed at preventing panic disorder, at the University of Vermont, and then I attended graduate school at Ohio University to become a clinical psychologist. I specialized in the treatment and research of anxiety disorders, including social anxiety and posttraumatic stress disorders. I returned to the southeast to complete my predoctoral internship in the Charleston Consortium. This included rotations at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center and at the Medical University of South Carolina's Department of Psychiatry. After this year-long internship (yep...it keeps going!), I accepted a postdoctoral fellowship position at the National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center (NCVC), which was funded by the National Institute of Mental Health. At the NCVC, I collaborated on PTSD research and provided evidence-based PTSD asessment and psychotherapy for youth and adults. I have received excellent training from renowned psychologists, and I love that I can carry my training and passion for mental health to areas in need of more evidence-based psychotherapists. I am currently settled in Chattanooga, TN, with close proximity to hundreds of beautiful hiking trails! I also continue to conduct research on the diverse causes of anxiety/traumatic stress disorders, and I teach psychology students.

I am committed to evidence-based psychotherapy (i.e., methods that have been supported with scientific evidence as being effective for many people, assuming adequate clinician training). My therapeutic orientation is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, which is the gold-standard form of psychotherapy for many (but not all) psychological disorders and other emotional wellness concerns. The "C" part refers to how we think about ourselves, others, and the world, which ultimately affects the emotions that we feel. The "B" refers to addressing specific behaviors that are preventing you from feeling better, or perhaps making you feel worse. CBT aims to replace the unhelpful thinking and behavioral habits with balanced and healthy thinking and behavioral habits. This is done by collaborating with your CBT therapist about new skills each session and then practicing those skills in-between sessions, so that they become more automatic to you. The term "CBT" is a broad umbrella term and includes a variety of specific therapies and skill sets. Regardless, my approach is to ensure that the treatment plan that we collaboratively decide upon is *best fit* for your needs and your counseling goals.

My primary areas of expertise include anxiety-related disorders (e.g., phobias, social anxiety, PTSD, panic disorder), insomnia, depression, stress, and problen solving specific short-term goals. The most effective therapy requires a team effort, communication, and trust, and I would be honored to be on your team!