Ashley-Lauren Elrod: Transforming Trauma into a Mission for Mental Health Advocacy

In 2014, Ashley-Lauren Elrod, board certified mental health coach, advocacy leader, and the founder of the Emmy-nominated production company, Visionary Woman Productions, attempted suicide and came close to losing her life. Fortunately, a coworker who had noticed her diminishing light came to her rescue, ultimately saving her life.

Reflecting on that journey, which started with depression and spiraled into suicidal thoughts, she emphasizes how important it is to acknowledge the healing process. In the first part of an interview with The Educated Patient, Elrod explains how therapy, holistic approaches like cold water therapy, swimming, horseback riding, prayer, meditation and creativity have all helped to regain her balance and see better days.

The most important piece of advice, Elrod says, is to give yourself grace and understand that healing isn’t a one-time event. She explains that we’ve been conditioned to believe that healing happens quickly so we can move on to the next chapter, but that’s not true. Healing is a layered process, much like the cycle of a flower that goes through seasons of growth and renewal. Life is full of challenges, whether it’s the loss of a loved one or a significant life change, and we’ll always be healing from something. The key is to embrace the beauty of that continuous journey and not feel ashamed for needing time.

For Elrod, creativity and horseback riding have always been outlets that kept her grounded. As an equestrian competitor, and through her artistic endeavors, she found comfort during her most challenging moments. While those activities helped her cope, they also delayed her deeper healing journey. Now, as an adult, she uses those same passions not only for personal healing but also to advocate for and raise awareness about mental health.

Ashley is known for her visionary leadership and influential projects addressing critical real-world challenges. Her story is one of incredible resilience, having survived childhood sexual abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. Born in Chicago and now living in Brooklyn, she has transformed her past struggles into a mission of advocacy, working to break generational cycles of trauma.

For more information, visit Ashley-Lauren Online.