Ashlyn Douthitt
LMFT, CFLE
Presenter's Bio
Ashlyn N. Douthitt, LMFT, CFLE is a seasoned Marriage and Family Therapist with over a decade of experience helping youth, couples, and families navigate the complexities of their relationships. Alongside her clinical practice, Ashlyn serves as a clinical supervisor and adjunct professor with a commitment to shaping the future of the field through education and scholarship.
As a scientist-practitioner advocate, Ashlyn is deeply committed to addressing systemic inequalities and advocating for marginalized communities. Currently a doctoral candidate, Ashlyn's research aims to shed light on the intricate dynamics and challenges faced by families affected by incarceration. Her work seeks to inform more supportive, trauma-responsive interventions, policy changes, and contribute to a deeper understanding of how systemic factors influence family dynamics and mental health.
Guided by a profound belief in the transformative power of human connection, Ashlyn balances her roles as a clinician, educator, and scientist-practitioner advocate, striving to make a meaningful impact both within and beyond the therapy room.
Incarceration Through a Family Lens: A Relational, Trauma-Informed, and Culturally Responsive Approach
Course Summary
Families impacted by incarceration experience profound relational, emotional, and systemic challenges, yet these experiences are often oversimplified, overlooked, or misunderstood in clinical settings. When a family member is incarcerated, the entire family system absorbs the shock: roles shift overnight, emotional cutoffs form, caregivers carry invisible burdens, and children navigate stigma, shame, and ambiguous loss. Despite this, clinicians rarely receive training in how to support these families in a way that is trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and grounded in family systems principles.
resilience and connection.