Dr. Ashley Lowe-Simmons On Coaching Underrepresented Groups Through Mental Health Struggles

July is National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. This month is chosen to bring awareness to the unique struggles that racial and ethnic minority communities face regarding mental illness within our nation. We are highlighting an amazing woman who is helping stop the stigma surrounding mental health within BIPOC communities.

Dr. Ashley Lowe-Simmons, LCSW-C, FSW is a God-fearing wife, mother, and servant leader. Her greatest past challenge was being a Black single mother. During that part of her life she became extremely passionate about single mothers, particularly those of Black and Hispanic descent. Being a single mother is not easy and it is even more challenging if the mother belongs to a certain cultural demographic.

Dr. Ashley’s life mission is to provide Black and Hispanic families headed by single mothers with the right resources, support, and education to accomplish the goals and aspirations they have for their families.

Dr. Ashley has been able to birth multiple businesses which all focus on the things that she is most passionate about, she calls it her three M’s (moms, money and mental health).

How do you differentiate your business from others in your industry?

Dr. Ashley: I say that I am a nontraditional therapist. I don’t believe that everyone that comes in for therapy needs to be diagnosed. I try to be practical, relatable, and empathic in my sessions because people want to know that it is okay to be human and not have to hide from who they are or what they are going through. People come in for various reasons such as divorce, starting a new job, or becoming a new mom.

What do you feel are some unique struggles that underrepresented groups face in regard to mental illness in the US?

Dr. Ashley: I feel like in many minority cultures mental health is something that receives a lot of stigma, thus the reason so many minorities suffer in silence. It is embedded in our culture to just deal with things, to be strong, and not to discuss challenges outside of the immediate family which is not healthy because our families do not always have the tools necessary to teach coping skills. Minority men don’t want to be seen as weak and incapable, so they endure so much until a branch snaps and society is trying to figure out what is going on.

Dr. Ashley offers several services including, individual therapy, group therapy, Mental Coaching, workshops, and also hosts a Facebook show, Conversations With A Clinician.

Connect on social media @dr.alosimms

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