Ashley Ackerman’s background spans clinical practice, counselor education, and research. Ashley holds a PhD in Counseling from the University of Cincinnati, an MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, and a BS in Psychology from Wright State University. As a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Ohio, Ashley specializes in crisis, trauma, and disaster mental health. Ashley has supported individuals experiencing suicidal ideation in higher education, community mental health, and crisis settings. These experiences inform Ashley’s perspective on suicidal distress, which Ashley views not only as a risk to manage but as a deeply human experience often rooted in a loss of meaning, mattering, and connection.