Creativity meets clinical care for one Baylor MSW alumna

The Garland School of Social Work at Baylor University emphasizes training passionate students to recognize gaps in services and to become leaders that create lasting, meaningful change. Garland School alumna Ashley Hanna-Morgan, LCSW, PMH-C (MSW ’09) has established a career in social work doing just this in the field of perinatal mental health. 

As an undergraduate student at UCLA, Ashley studied English Literature as part of an interdisciplinary program that also allowed her to explore one of her interests – psychology. During her internship, Ashley began asking questions that looked at the person and their environment. It was this experience as an intern where she was told by a psychologist, “you actually sound like a social worker. Have you considered looking into a master’s in social work?” This encouragement led Ashley to consider MSW programs with an emphasis on faith integration and, ultimately, Baylor University and the Garland School.

Now a licensed clinical social worker, Ashley is a therapist specializing in EMDR, perinatal mental health, reproductive trauma, and religious trauma. She operates a private practice offering EMDR and Internal Family Systems therapy. What makes Ashley unique as a clinician is that she is also a creative force who looks for opportunities to incorporate fresh approaches to her work, always open to new experiences for her clients on their search for wellness and wholeness. For instance, Ashley conducts walk-and-talk sessions at a local park. Most notably, however, is the example that comes from one of her fondest and most motivating memories. 

“Imagine a mom holding a baby in a carrier on her chest and swaying the baby to sleep while holding the buzzers for EMDR therapy to reprocess her childhood trauma,” Ashley said. “She is simultaneously reprocessing her trauma and rocking her baby to sleep … getting to do EMDR therapy with someone who wants to become a better parent for the next generation … is such a beautiful thing."

Beyond being a one-of-a-kind perinatal mental health counselor, Ashley is also an accomplished writer and program developer. Through her personal experience with postpartum mental health, Ashley came to find that the education social workers received around postpartum mental health care was severely lacking. So, she wrote and developed the Afterglow – a support group facilitator’s curriculum. This resource is designed to give counselors a practical, strengths-based and confidence-building tool to facilitate groups around postpartum care. Ashley has also published a collection of poems called I Gave Birth to My Heart, centered around her own experience with postpartum depression and anxiety, and perhaps more importantly, recovery.

Ashley’s adventure in connecting social work practice and research with creative writing didn’t end there. Just this year, Ashley felt the need to make her research and advocacy more accessible beyond a social worker’s curriculum. But how? This is the age-old question for anyone doing practical research at a high level. 

The answer for Ashley was resting comfortably in one of her favorite loves, literature – mystery fiction, to be exact. In Her Own Backyard tells the story of a group of five moms who are attempting to solve a cold case, while the main character is navigating a journey of postpartum depression and anxiety. The purpose of the novel was to get postpartum mental health material into the hands of people who may not otherwise be seeking out a textbook, memoir, or self-help book about perinatal care.

 In Her Own Backyard tells the story of a group of five moms who are attempting to solve a cold case, while the main character is navigating a journey of postpartum depression and anxiety. The purpose of the novel was to get postpartum mental health material into the hands of people who may not otherwise be seeking out a textbook, memoir, or self-help book about perinatal care.

Looking forward, Ashley is riding the energetic wave following the release of her novel. She has been doing speaking engagements, and there are even rumors of interested production companies, all while balancing her private practice and family. Ashley is a passionate, curious and enthusiastic clinical social worker who emphasizes client-centered care and co-creation in the clinical space. Want to learn more about Ashley and her work? You can find more here on her website. Sic 'em, Ashley!

Interested in what you can do with a master’s degree from Baylor University? Learn more about the graduate degree programs we offer here. #SicEmBears