Ashley Annestedt, LCSW
Clinical Expertise
Ashley Annestedt, LCSW (she/her) is the owner and Executive Director of Beyond Borders CBT. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) permanently licensed in Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Tennessee, & Utah and has served patients in over 20 countries and counting.
She has devoted her career to the evidence based treatment of OCD, Tourette, and Body Focused Repetitive Behaviors, including Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Comprehensive Behavioral Interventions for Tics (CBIT), and Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT).
In addition to her practice, she speaks at various conferences, supervises interns, facilitates trainings, and serves as a residential therapist for mental health related camps around the world. She also contributes to media outlets such as Huffington Post & Bustle providing accurate information and removing stigma around mental health.
Prior to entering private practice, Ashley was a faculty member at the University of Tennessee where she trained multi-disciplinary teams on pediatric anxiety, neurodiverse parenting & more. She is passionate about increasing access to quality mental health care around the globe and is currently working on relevant projects in the US, Mexico, and Brazil. In addition to providing culturally attune care, Ashley also works with many in the LGBTQIA community & considers herself an ally.
Maternal Mental Health
Ashley also heads our maternal mental health program, serving moms who are experiencing mental health issues such as OCD, Depression, Anxiety & much more. In addition to clinical expertise in this area, Ashley personally experienced health-related OCD with the birth of her second child which allows her to approach this work through a lense of compassion and lived experience. Ashley has two children, now both in their tween/teen years and approaches this work in a raw and honest way.
Education
Ashley received her undergraduate degree from the University of Memphis then accepted a life-changing opportunity to work in East Africa. The experience in Kenya was the catalyst for her interest in OCD & related disorder. Returning to the US, she then received her graduate degree in Clinical Social Work from the University of Tennessee where she was a national LEND fellow (Leadership & Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities) and received comprehensive training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. The learning and growth of a competent clinician is never-ending. Ashley continues to take part in conferences and training, while also staying up-to-date on research pertinent to her areas of specialization.
Personal
Ashley is married with two school aged children. Her family splits their time between Evergreen, Colorado and San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. Ashley is an avid runner and outdoor enthusiast. She enjoys camping, hiking, and international travel, as well as cooking and reading. She and her husband are currently on a quest to conquer some of the highest peaks around the globe.
Licenses
- Alaska License Number: 103379
- Colorado License Number: 09923957
- Tennessee License Number: 5769
- Arkansas License Number: 7810-C
- Florida License Number: TPSW1202