Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Mcfarland
Hi Ashley, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
It took me a long time to find the beauty in my story. I experienced significant trauma during my early childhood, and those experiences shaped how I viewed the world, my relationships with others, and even my relationship with God. Growing up in the church added a layer of complexity to understanding the question, “How can a good God allow harmful things to happen?”
In high school, I remember hearing someone say, “Be who you needed,” and that sparked my initial interest in child advocacy. I thought I would become a lawyer. That didn’t happen, though (laughs), so I turned to something else I loved—broadcast journalism. I studied journalism in college, and during my senior year, I worked on a campaign for a nonprofit called “Choose Your Partner Carefully.” It was during that campaign that a lightbulb went off, and I realized I wanted to work in nonprofit organizations, specifically with children who have experienced abuse and neglect.
Since graduating, most of my career has focused on working in nonprofits to support young people impacted by trauma. My work has expanded to include teens and adults, which ultimately led me to where I am today—a trauma therapist. One of the things I love about this season of my professional life is the opportunity to blend my passion for trauma healing with my faith. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that I ended up focusing on trauma. I once read the phrase, “Most research is me-search,” and that resonates with me because my educational journey and professional work have been pivotal in my own healing from trauma.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The road has certainly not been smooth. Honestly, so many of my challenges were internal. A consistent wrestling with “Am I on the right track?” “Am I making a difference?” “Do I even know what I’m doing?” I think that is the struggle for a lot of people when trying to live life on purpose, with purpose.
We’ve been impressed with The Pineheart Center, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I’m a licensed clinical social worker specializing in helping individuals heal from traumatic experiences, with a particular focus on relational trauma. One of the things that sets me apart is being an African American therapist—did you know that we make up only 4% of the therapist population, despite African Americans comprising 14.4% of the U.S. population? Additionally, 61% of African American children experience at least one adverse childhood experience (ACE), which is often a form of trauma. There’s a tremendous need for therapists of color, especially those who focus on trauma.
What I’m most proud of right now is my latest project, “Healing Echoes: Navigating Trauma Through Biblical Wisdom and Modern Recovery Strategies.” It’s been a labor of love for almost a year, and I’m incredibly proud of what I’ve created. “Healing Echoes” is the foundation, with two branches—one for clinicians and one for the church. My vision is to equip clinicians with tools to help their clients integrate faith into their healing journey, to help churches incorporate modern interventions into their spiritual ministries, and to help individuals see how they can use both professional tools and biblical tools in their personal healing journeys.
So far, I’ve hosted three workshops, and the response has been amazing! People appreciate the blend of faith and mental health, and the opportunity to see how the two can be intertwined in a way that respects individuality and autonomy. The greatest gift for me has been witnessing how God had trauma treatment in mind from the beginning, and being able to bring that to life through scripture while connecting it to modern treatment methods has been incredible. I am looking forward to 2025 and being able to offer more opportunities for those interested to come and learn about the intersection between faith and mental health.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
My favorite childhood memory is from 1st or 2nd grade. We were doing a school-wide program, I think it was for Black History month, and they hosted open auditions for a very exclusive African Dance team. We got on stage about 4 or 5 at a time and just had to free style dance. I have always loved dance and never really had the chance to do formal dance lessons so this was bold of me to get on that stage haha. But that boldness paid off because I was selected. I will never forget the look of utter shock on my older sister’s face when they called my name. It was such a proud moment for me. I also love that memory because even at a young age I was always the kid that thought “I could do that” and that belief that I am capable has been what has helped me push through those down and discouraging days. And I got to wear a super cute African print outfit.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.pineheartcenter.com
- Instagram: @ItsAshleySpeaks
