Meet Ashley Samonte, LCSW
Ashley is a New York State licensed clinical social worker who was recognized by the Academy of Certified Social Workers in Spring of 2018 as a professional who meets ‘national standards for higher levels of experience and knowledge’. Ashley is the founder of Psychotherapy and Self-Care, and a member of the Medical Review Board of U.S. News & World Report. Her therapeutic approach is client-centered with an emphasis on strengths, psychoeducation, and self-care.
Background
While pursuing her bachelor’s degree in psychology, she was 1 of 5 students carefully selected to participate in an advanced practicum course that included clinical experience at Pilgrim State Psychiatric Center, a New York State Office of Mental Health inpatient facility working with individuals who suffer from severe mental illnesses. During that time, she also worked with U.S Veteran students on a voluntary basis in order to assist their transition back into civilian life while simultaneously increasing community awareness about the military population on Long Island. By the time she received her degree she spent significant time in private and state facilities: inpatient/outpatient chemical dependency sites, day programs, and a school for children on the spectrum.
After receiving her BA, Ashley attended Fordham University and pursued her master’s degree in social work with a clinical focus. She assisted individuals at an extended care facility with medical needs who were diagnosed with HIV/AIDS and women on a secure unit suffering from severe mental illnesses. She also worked for the Department of Veteran Affairs where she provided one on one psychotherapy and facilitated an array of psychosocial group treatments. In addition to her primary roles she took on projects with disabled and blind veterans; these supportive environments allowed her to co-create an extensive proposal regarding multidisciplinary student conferences with the goal to promote interdisciplinary collaboration for care coordination across all health professions.
Ashley remains especially passionate about “serving those, who have served us.” After receiving her master’s degree she continued to work in areas of medical and clinical social work while providing concrete assistance to the underserved, raising awareness in communities through advocacy and fundraising.
She has unique expertise in counseling adults and families in various settings, going on to work with children to ensure that their basic needs are being met both in school and at home. Her work with children included advocating at Committee on Special Education meetings and developing comprehensive care plans focusing on emotional and developmental needs. Ashley became a Certified Financial Social Worker in May of 2017 and has significant experience working on concrete goals related to education, financial well-being, and physical well-being. In November of 2018, Ashley became a Circle of Security-Parenting facilitator in order to promote healthy parent-child attachments.
Ashley has practiced individual counseling for adults, adolescents, and children as well as dyadic counseling and group therapy. Ashley is LGBT[QIA] Affirmative and sex positive. Clinical areas of emphasis include Bereavement, Moral Injury, Post-Traumatic Growth, Post-Traumatic Stress, resilience, and an array of other mental health concerns. Click here for a comprehensive list.