Education:  Ms. Armistead earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Health and Sport Science from Wake Forest University and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Delaware.  Ashley was awarded a Master of Arts degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at UNC Charlotte where she was a member of Chi Sigma Iota, the national honor society in Counseling.

Clinical Practice:  Ashley works clinically with adolescents 14 and older, young adults and adults.  She is experienced with grief and loss, anxiety and depression, life transitions, trauma, and relationship stress.  Her previous work in pediatrics and cardiac rehabilitation helped her gain appreciation for the mind-body connection.  Ms. Armistead’s focus on the mutual influence of mind and body led her to found Let Me Run, a nonprofit wellness program for boys that harnesses the power of running to a comprehensive curriculum designed to amplify confidence, self-expression, and respect for others.

Ashley believes that psychotherapy is most successful when she and her client develop an authentic, non-judgmental therapeutic relationship that opens space for the client to cultivate more relational connectedness, self-compassion, and emotional freedom.  Working with a client to create an atmosphere in which they are most comfortable, Ms. Armistead may include walking therapy and other physical activities in their time together.  Her passion for clinical engagement is fueled by her belief that clients come to psychotherapy, not only with pain and struggles, but with inherent value, areas of resilience, and the capacity to grow.  She enjoys working with a spectrum of cultures.

Non-Clinical Experience:  In addition to nursing and her leadership in Let Me Run, Ashley also has worked extensively with Roof Above, the new organization formed through the merger of Urban Ministry and Men’s Shelter of Charlotte.  In addition, she has been involved with the Appalachian Service Project, an entity that brings over 15,000 volunteers annually to rural Central Appalachia to repair homes for people living in that region.

Clinical Team Membership:  Ms. Armistead is a member of Presby Psych’s Trauma Recovery Counseling and Psychotherapy Team; Child, Adolescent & Families Team, and our Spirituality Team.

Location:  Ashley practices at our Sharon Road/South Park office where she accepts Aetna, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, out-of- network benefits and sliding scale fees.