Ashley O'Neal, LMSW

Ashley O’Neal, LMSW, is a social work professional with approximately eight years of experience supporting individuals across clinical, community mental health, correctional, and educational settings. She has built a career centered on working with diverse and high-risk populations, with a strong emphasis on trauma-informed care and long-term stability. Ashley is currently based in Florence, Alabama, a college town near the University of North Alabama, where she and her colleagues also engage in community speaking events focused on burnout, resilience, and self-care for students and professionals.

For the past several years, Ashley has worked in a small private practice consisting of three practitioners, where she specializes primarily in trauma therapy. She and her coworker utilize EMDR as their primary therapeutic modality, focusing on helping clients understand how early experiences and relationships shape present-day emotional patterns, relationships, and identity. She works with clients ranging from 18 to 75 years old, offering primarily in-person services with virtual sessions available when needed. Her clinical approach is grounded in uncovering root causes rather than solely addressing surface-level symptoms.

Prior to her private practice work, Ashley served in community mental health at Southern Wellness, where she supported individuals navigating substance use challenges as a caseworker, connecting clients to detox services, recovery meetings, and comprehensive wraparound support. Earlier in her career, she also worked extensively in corrections, court services, and school social work, including roles within the Kansas Department of Corrections and Washburn Rural High School. Her interest in psychology began in childhood, sparked by a curiosity about human behavior and reinforced through years of professional experience, particularly recognizing the role of trauma in substance use and behavioral health outcomes.

• Washburn University - MSW
• Washburn University - BSW

• EMDR Certification

• NASW (National Association of Social Workers)