Episode 19: Dr. Ashley Belcher

Dr. Ashley Belcher is originally from a small town in West Virginia. She earned her Bachelors of Arts degree in Psychology from Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. She was active in several campus groups and voted president of the university’s chapter of Psi Chi National Honor Society her senior year.Dr. Ashley moved to Louisville to attend Spalding University and earned her Masters of Arts and Doctor of Psychology degrees from Spalding University School of Professional Psychology. During her time in graduate school, she gained valuable experience working in a wide array of settings including schools, inpatient psychiatric, memory care, forensic residential, and a university counseling center. During her training at Spalding University, she specialized in Health and Pediatric Psychology and developed integrated clinical skills in interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) while delving into attachment theory research and completing her dissertation on the effects of attachment styles and health behaviors, which has informed the care she provides as well.As her formal education came to a close, she sought out a pre-doctoral internship in health psychology, and thus completed her Pre-Doctoral Internship at WellSpan Health in York, Pennsylvania. There she spent half of her time in a rural integrated primary care setting and the other half in an urban community mental health setting. During this year, she trained in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and motivational interviewing (MI). Dr. Belcher and her family moved back to Louisville to settle and develop strong relationships within the Louisville Community. She completed a Post-Doctoral Fellowship at Pediatric Psychological Associates, a private practice here in Louisville, and remained employed there as a full-time psychologist for a year and half. She has enjoyed the privilege of working with a diverse clientele, and each person with a unique story and problem set. Additionally, she has had the freedom to expand her clinical practice to include supervision of assessment practicum students, integrating aspects of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) into her clinical work, and attending specialized training in perinatal psychology.Most recently, Dr. Ashley sought specialist training in treating perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, achieving her Perinatal Mental Health Certification through Postpartum Support International. After working in several different healthcare settings, she recognized the healthcare disparity for this vulnerable population, especially LGBTQIA+ families and families of color. This stoked her passion to provide people in these groups with the most informed treatment possible. Dr. Belcher’s belief in resilience of the human spirit drives her passion for providing care. She dedicates herself to developing a strong collaborative and empowering relationship with her patients. She is also skilled in collaborating with parents/caregivers, schools, and other providers and professionals to understand how problems arise within the context of each unique situation.

Description of your current work setting:
Clinical psychologist at Be Well Kentucky, a private practice in Louisville, Kentucky.

What is your involvement with KPA?:
I am the Clinical Interest Representative and was recently involved in a focus group geared toward increasing membership and value of a KPA membership.