Ashley Lockley is a native of Washington, DC who is currently a PhD candidate in the Marriage & Family Therapy program at Eastern University. She is a Marriage & Family Therapist (MFT) and as a former early childhood educator, she has authored two mental health themed books for children. As an MFT, Ashley serves individual, couple, and family clients of all ages whose identities and experiences are diverse regarding race/ethnicity, gender identity, sexuality, religion/spirituality, socioeconomic status, and mental health status. Additionally, she created a mental health brand in 2018 called Mastering Mind Matters. This Washington, DC Metropolitan area-based brand addresses mental health and the stigma around it - especially in faith-based and historically vulnerable communities – through mental health programming, advocacy, and consulting. Through her doctoral studies, Ashley has explored research interests including grief & loss and the impact of lament and other positive coping strategies, both of which are critical to serving historically underserved populations and contributing to understanding the necessary elements of preventative mental health care. She has presented at several academic and professional conferences, with her research mainly focused on the positive effects of lament as a psychological and spiritual practice particularly for Black women. Ashley views her work as an MFT as one of the primary ways that she operates in her purpose - creating safe, supportive, sincere, and educational spaces to support others in prioritizing their journeys to mental and spiritual wholeness and wellness.