Ashley B. Harper, PhD

Dr. Ashley B. Harper is a licensed clinical health psychologist and Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine at East Carolina University Brody School of Medicine. She practices with ECU Health in Greenville, North Carolina, where she has served patients since July 2019. With nearly a decade of independent licensure, Dr. Harper is recognized for her expertise in integrated care, working within interdisciplinary medical teams to deliver comprehensive, whole-person treatment grounded in the biopsychosocial model. Her clinical work spans both inpatient and outpatient settings and focuses on the psychological complexities associated with chronic illness, persistent pain, and major medical interventions. Dr. Harper is highly specialized in conducting comprehensive pre-surgical psychological evaluations for patients pursuing transplant, bariatric and metabolic surgery, and spinal cord neurostimulation for chronic pain conditions. Additionally, she provides adult ADHD assessments and psychological evaluations for clergy postulants, reflecting a breadth of expertise across both medical and vocational domains. She has also served as her department’s subject matter expert on a range of mental health topics, providing consultation and commentary for local and regional news outlets.

Deeply committed to health behavior change, Dr. Harper has a particular focus on lifestyle medicine in the prevention and treatment of obesity and weight management. She integrates evidence-based interventions with practical, patient-centered education to support sustainable lifestyle modification. Her clinical approach emphasizes enhancing insight, strengthening self-regulation, and equipping individuals with actionable strategies to improve long-term health outcomes. Moreover, Dr. Harper delivers educational presentations and continuing medical education (CME) workshops for healthcare providers focused on the clinical impact of social determinants of health in patient care. Her work emphasizes practical, evidence-informed strategies to help clinicians more accurately identify social, behavioral, and environmental factors influencing health outcomes, and to integrate this understanding into comprehensive assessment, treatment planning, and care coordination.

In addition to her clinical practice, Dr. Harper is a dedicated educator, mentor, and program developer. As a faculty member within ECU Health, she provides training and supervision to residents, medical students, and psychology interns. She also developed a health psychology fellowship program from inception, with its inaugural cohort scheduled to begin September 1. An active lecturer and speaker, Dr. Harper presents on topics including behavioral management of hypertension, diabetes-related distress, motivational interviewing in health promotion, and the role of health psychology in integrated medical care. Through her clinical, academic, and leadership efforts, Dr. Harper continues to advance the integration of behavioral health within medical systems while contributing to the development of the next generation of healthcare professionals.

• University of Kentucky - B.A. in Psychology with Spanish minor
• University of Miami - M.S.Ed. in Counseling
• University of Georgia - Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology with Health Psychology emphasis
• Henry Ford Health, Detroit, Michigan - Clinical Psychology Residency, Health Psychology Track
• Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), Charleston, SC - Clinical Psychology Postdoctoral Fellowship in Behavioral Medicine

• Certified with the National Register of Health Service Psychologists
• Certifications in Clinical Treatment of Trauma and Anxiety
• Board Certification in Lifestyle Medicine (in progress through American College of Lifestyle Medicine via ABLM)

• ECU Health 5-Star Provider Recipient for FY 2024 (April 2025)
• ECU’s OFALD Above & Beyond Faculty Spotlight Recipient (June 2025)
• ECU Graduate Student Survey Faculty Impact Recipient (Fall 2023)

• American Psychological Association (APA)
• APA Division 38: Society of Health Psychology
• Clinical Health Services Council (CHSC) of Division 38
• Division 38 Lifestyle Medicine Interest Group
• American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM)
• Association of Psychologists in Academic Health Centers (APAHC)
• Southeastern Psychological Association (SEPA)
• Association of Medicine and Psychiatry (AMP)

— Harper, A.B. & Shonrock, A. (revise & resubmit). Beyond BMI: Addressing Weight Bias in Medical Care through Comprehensive Metabolic Assessment in WLS Candidates. [Previously submitted to Obesity Reviews]. ECU Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Medicine.

— Bruns, D., Milkavich, A., Bicksler, A., Cruz, A., Harper, A.B., La Cava, S., Martens, K., & Hermiz, J. (2026). Classifying Pain: Is the DSM-5-TR an Appropriate System for Diagnosing Pain-Related Disorders? The Health Psychologist, 2026 (Spring). https://societyforhealthpsychology.org/the-health-psychologist/conversation-corner/classifying-pain-is-the-dsm-5-tr-an-appropriate-system-for-diagnosing-pain-related-disorders/

— Britton, A. (2020). Managing Cognitive Dissonance and Self-Justification in Counseling Settings. In D.A. Kleiber & E. Delgado-Romero (Eds.), Social Psychology and Counseling: Issues and Applications (pp. 89–102). Hauppenaug, NY: Nova Science.

— Britton, A., & Davantes-Heckman, B. (2017). A Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Depression Intervention in Persons with Co-Occurring Chronic Migraines: A Randomized Clinical Pilot Efficacy Trial. University of Georgia, Athens, GA. https://getd.libs.uga.edu/pdfs/britton_ashley_j_201708_phd.pdf

— Heckman, B., & Britton, A. (2015). Headache in African Americans: An Overlooked Disparity. Journal of the National Medical Association, 107(2), 39–45. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0027-9684(15)30023-7. PMID: 27269489.

SELECTED CONFERENCE & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PRESENTATIONS

— Harper, A.B. Managing Diabetes Distress (aka Diabetes Burnout). CME Presentation at Eastern AHEC’s “A–Z Diabetes Boot Camp” conference (Apr 6-10, 2026). Greenville, NC, April 9, 2026.

— Harper, A.B. Panelist, "Advancement in Title, Promotion and Tenure," BSOM’s Office of Faculty Affairs & Leadership Development (OFALD) Mentoring Advice Program (MAP) series. Greenville, NC, March 6, 2026.

— Harper, A.B. Navigating Role Overload, Compassion Fatigue and Burnout Beyond Resilience. CME Presentation for BSOM’s Office of Faculty Affairs & Leadership Development (OFALD) Mentoring Advice Program (MAP) series. Greenville, NC, December 5, 2025.

— Britton, A. Embrace the Journey: Unlocking the Path to Mental Wellness Together. Community Presentation at Trillium Health Resource’s Annual Mental Health Awareness & Blood Pressure Symposium, Winterville, NC, May 9, 2025.

— Britton, A. The Psychological Edge: Optimizing Integrated Care and Patient Outcomes. 90-minute workshop presentation at the 25th Annual Meeting of the Association for Medicine and Psychiatry, Milwaukee, WI, October 4, 2024.

— Britton, A. Health Psychology 101: Optimizing Patient Care in Academic Medical Settings. Live Webinar for the Association for Medicine and Psychiatry webinar series, January 19, 2023.

— Britton, A. Behavioral Medicine in Academic Health Centers: Optimizing Complex Patient Care. ECU Psychiatry & Behavioral Medicine Department Grand Rounds Presentation for E-AHEC, November 17, 2022.

— Britton, A. Compassion Fatigue Resilience. Presentation at East Carolina University (ECU) Psychiatry & Behavioral Medicine Faculty Development Series, May 12, 2022.

— Corral, I., Cunningham, K., Kyle, B, & Britton, A. Coping through the COVID-19 Pandemic Diverse Experiences: A Virtual Roundtable Discussion. East Carolina University (ECU) Laupus Library Diversity Committee Virtual Roundtable Discussion, March 2021.

— Britton, A. Managing Countertransference with Patients with a Personality Disorder. Presentation at East Carolina University (ECU) Psychiatry & Behavioral Medicine Faculty Development Series, March 2021.

MEDIA PROJECTS

—Interview, “Battling New Years’ Depression a Real Challenge for Some,” WNCT-9, Jan 1, 2025.

—Interview, “Seasonal Woes Impacting People of All Ages as Holidays Near,” WNCT-9, Nov 24, 2024.

—Interview, “Psychological Reasons Why Some Fall Off Their New Year’s Resolutions,” WNCT-9, Jan 24, 2024.

—Interview, “ECU Health Expert Has Tips to Curb Your Post-Holiday Blues,” WNCT-9, Jan 2, 2024.

—Interview, “Helping Seniors Manage Holiday Blues,” WITN, Dec 8, 2023. Interview, “Sober Curious Trend Aims to Help with Underage Drinking, Healthier Lifestyles,” WNCT-9, Jan 31, 2023.

—Interview, “Holiday Stress and How to Manage It,” WNCT-9, Dec 23, 2022 Interview, “2022 Guide to Surviving a Trip Home for the Holidays,” WITN, Dec 21, 2022

—Interview, “Managing Holiday Stress,” Mark Woodson Radio Show, Dec 14, 2022 Interview, “ECU Health Experts Warn About ‘Impact of Holiday Blues’,” WNCT-9, Nov 30, 2022.

—Interview, “Highlighting Your Health: Resiliency Focus for Your 2022 Mental Health Goals,” ECU Health News, Feb 18, 2022.

—Interview, “Highlighting Your Health: Coping Tips & Resources for Holiday Depression,” The Daily Reflector, Dec 22, 2021.

—Interview, “Healthy Habits: Coping with Depression Ahead of the Holidays,” WITN News at Sunrise, aired Dec 21, 2021.

—Interview, “How to Beat the Holiday Blues During the COVID-19 Pandemic” for WITN News at Sunrise, aired Dec 22, 2020.

—Interview, “Managing Seasonal Depression,” WCTI-12, Nov 18, 2020.

—Interview, “Ten for 20: Minding Mental Health,” Greenville: Life in the East, Dec 18, 2019.

—Interview, “Holiday Stress & New Year’s Resolutions,” The Daily Reflector, Dec 18, 2019.

—Interview, “Holiday Stress & Anxiety,” Talk of the Town Podcast, Dec 9, 2019.

—Interview, “Holiday Stress: ECU Experts Weigh in on Seasonal Stresses, Anxiety,” ECU News Services, printed Nov 21, 2019.