Ashley Hicks

Ashley A. Hicks is Clinical Associate Professor of Human Development and Family Science and Director of the OSU Couple and Family Therapy Clinic. Hicks is a sought-after teacher, supervisor and clinician. She is an independently licensed marriage and family therapist, an Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing-trained therapist, an American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy-approved supervisor, and a 200 hour-registered yoga teacher. 

Hicks has offered research-based trainings and presentations at the local, state and national level to mental health providers, healthcare providers, clergy, community and government groups to help better address mental health concerns such as eating disorders and address anti-Black racism in clinical practice. 

Her clinical practice, which draws on her research findings, focuses primarily on the needs of Black individuals and families as well as those struggling with body image and eating disorders. She has provided local, regional and national training on addressing issues of race, justice, and diversity in clinical practice. 

Hicks’ goal is to produce scholarship and engage in teaching that moves the field of couple and family therapy forward. She trains students to provide effective, culturally relevant and holistic care and to create evidence for effective approaches to clinical care for all people.

• PhD - The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH December 2016
• Human Development and Family Science, Couple and Family Therapy Specialization
• Masters of Science - The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH  June 2011
• Human Ecology
• Bachelors of Arts - The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH  June 2009
• Sociology
• Spanish
• Public Policy (minor)

Hicks’ research interests align significantly with her teaching and clinical foci of adolescent development, family development in context, and the unique needs of Black and other marginalized populations. Her past and future research seeks to accomplish the following: 

• Broaden our understanding of the experience of eating disorders among racial, ethnic, sexual, and gender minorities and their unique treatment needs 
• Identify and analyze individual, family, and environmental adaptive strategies used in response to adverse life experiences that can contribute to the successful treatment of child/adolescent trauma exposure, depression, anxiety, self-harm, and suicidal ideation.
• Develop, implement, and evaluate culturally relevant and effective mental health treatment for diverse populations.

Research Experience

• Co-Investigator and Project Coordinator, Department of Human Development and Family Science, The Ohio State University,  Columbus, OH October 2011-present
• Project Title:  The Ohio Bullying Prevention Project
• Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Human Development and Family Science, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH October 2010- 2011
• Project Title:  Columbus Violence Prevention Collaborative (CVPC) Smart Prevention and Research Network
• Research Assistant, Department of Human Development and Family Science, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH October 2008 – 2009 
• Project Title: Building Capacity for Community and Youth Impact in East Columbus

Teaching Experience

• Instructor, Department of Human Sciences, The Ohio State University Columbus, OH (Spring 2014, Summer 2014)   
• Course: HDFS 4370 Families and Stress
• Graduate Teaching Assistant, Department of Human Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH (Fall 2012 Spring, 2013,Fall 2013)
• Course: Research Methods in Human Development and Family Science

Clinical Experience

• Marriage and Family Therapy Intern, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH May 2013- July 2015
• Behavioral Health: Eating Disorders Program

Professional Membership

• Society for Research on Adolescence, Student Member, 2012-2014
• American Society of Marriage and Family Therapy, Student Member, 2012 -2014

• Awarded The Ohio State University Graduate Enrichment Fellowship, 2009-2015
• Awarded the OSU Criminal Justice Research Center Thesis Award, 2010-2011
• Awarded the Todd Bell National Resource Center for the African American Male Graduate Student Service Award, 2011 Graduate Student Service Award
• Selected for the Todd Anthony Bell National Resource Center on the African American Male, Bell Fellowship program, 2013- 2014 Cohort

• Hicks White, A., Pratt, K., Cottril, C. (2018). The relationship between trauma and weight status among adolescents in eating disorder treatment. Appetite.
• Hicks White, A. & Snyder, A. (2017). Examining youth and caregiver reports of depression and anxiety in families seeking eating disorder treatment. Eating Disorders.
• Hicks White, A. (2017, Sept/Oct). Black Adolescents and Mental Health. Family Therapy Magazine, 15(6), pp.22-24. 
• Hicks White, A. (2016, Nov/Dec). The Road to Marriage and Family Therapy. Family Therapy Magazine, 15(6), pp.22-24. 
• Hicks, A., Wilkinson, D. L., & Snyder, A. (2015). From the grassroots to the elites: examining collaboration among local service providers. Community Development, 1-16.
• Hicks White, A. (2018, November). Book Review: Meaningful Grading: A Guide for Faculty in the Arts. Reflective Teaching. 
• Wilkinson, D.L., Hicks, A., and Bloom, S. (2011). Adolescents and Firearms. Psychology of Teen Violence and Victimization, Edited by Michele Paludi. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO, INC. 

• Hicks, A. (2020, October). Decolonizing Couple and Family Therapy: Addressing Anti-Black Racism in Clinical Practice. Workshop presented at the Annual Conference of the Kentucky Interest of the American Association of Family Therapy, Louisville, KY.  
• Hicks, A. (2020, September). The Talk: Addressing Anti-Black Racism in Couple and Family Therapy. Keynote Presentation at the 2020 Washington State Association of Marriage and Family Therapy. Seattle, Washington. 
• Hicks White, A. (2019, February). Pastoral Care in Context: Supporting those Struggling with Eating Disorders. Presentation at the annual conference of the Presbyterian College Chaplains Association, Louisville, KY. 
• Hicks White, A. (2018, November). A Relational Path to Social Justice: Lessons from Contextual Therapy. Presentation at the annual meeting of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy Association, Louisville, KY.
• Hicks White, A. (2018, November). Family Views on Comorbid Symptoms and Adolescent Disordered Eating. Presentation at the annual meeting of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy Association, Louisville, KY.
• Hicks White, A. (2018, February). Caring for Black Lives: Inside and Outside of the Church. Workshop Presentation at the 2018 Black Church Studies Consultation, Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Louisville, KY. 
• Hicks White, A. & Younkin, F. (2017, October). The Role of the MFT in Eating Disorder Treatment. Presentation at the annual meeting of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy Association, Atlanta, GA. 
• Hicks White, A. (2017, May). Violence against women of color. Panel Presentation held by Black Lives Matter Louisville and Stand Up Sunday. Louisville, KY. 
• Hicks White, A. (2017, February). Acknowledging the Historical and Cultural Trauma of Black Families: A Healing Movement. Presentation at the annual meeting of the Kentucky Association of Marriage and Family Therapy, Louisville, KY. 
• Hicks, A. & White, J. (2016, March). Optimal Psychology and Family Therapy: An Alternative Paradigm to Treat Black Families. Presentation at the annual meeting of the International Family Therapy Association, Kona, HI.