Meet Dr. Ashley Pierson
I am a clinical psychologist licensed in CT and NY, located in Brooklyn, NY, and intensively trained with expertise in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), as well as treatment for PTSD and trauma-related disorders.
I rely on research-supported interventions that have demonstrated success with helping people improve specific areas of functioning, such as reducing depression, anxiety, PTSD symptoms, Borderline Personality Disorder symptoms, and impulsive, dangerous behaviors including addiction, self-harm, and suicidal behavior.
I primarily treat individuals whose lives feel chaotic and out of control with unrelenting misery and emotional suffering. My practice is dedicated to equipping these individuals with the tools needed to accept emotional pain, eliminate harmful ways of coping, and build lives that reward them with purpose and meaning. My approach is open, direct, and compassionate. I speak and interact with clients as my authentic self in a therapeutic relationship.
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As a White, cis-gender woman, it is important to me to regularly reflect on ways that my own intersectional identity influences how I see, understand, and treat my clients in therapy. I regularly seek out consultation, trainings, and invest time and energy into self-reflective exercises to work towards increased awareness of my racial identity and privilege.
In addition to being a psychologist, I am a mother, pop culture aficionado, foodie, and lover of beaches, hip-hop music, viral TikTok dances, and pottery.
Education & Training
I have a PhD in clinical psychology with a specialization in forensic psychology from Fordham University. I completed my predoctoral internship at the Hudson Valley Veterans Affairs (VA) Healthcare System, where I received intensive training in the assessment and treatment of PTSD and trauma-related disorders. My doctorate training was highly focused on the study, assessment, and treatment of personality disorders, as well as risk for violence perpetrated against self or others.
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I am intensively trained in several evidence-based treatments, including: Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Prolonged Exposure (PE), as well as DBT-PE. I trained across a wide range of clinical settings including Bellevue Hospital, Yale University, and Kirby Forensic Psychiatric Center.
"If you want to master something, teach it."
- Yogi Bhajan
Professional Background
I was formerly an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Yale School of Medicine, interim director of DBT services for Yale New Haven Psychiatric Hospital, and primary advisor for Yale University's pre-doctoral DBT internship program.
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I have taught, trained, and supervised multiple students in the theory and practice of DBT, including social work interns, psychology practicum students, pre-doctoral psychology interns, medical school students, and psychiatry residents.
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At Yale, I redesigned a DBT intensive outpatient program (IOP), the referral and screening process for YNHH DBT services, and guided the expansion of outpatient DBT, yielding significant increases to hospital revenue and patient access.
