Dr. Ashley Lowe-Simmons, LCSW-C, FSW has accomplished a lot in her personal and professional life, but none of her accomplishments have been obtained with ease. Before meeting her husband she was a single mom for ten years and has a passion specifically for helping single moms obtain financial health.
Can you tell everyone who is Dr. Ashley Lowe-Simmons outside of your bio?
Dr. Ashley Lowe-Simmons: I am the CEO of multiple businesses in the nonprofit and for-profit sectors. I love to travel and create new experiences with those that matter most. Many of the things that I am passionate about were birthed from the hurdles that I have had to jump in life. I was not born into wealth, so everything that I had to build was built from the bottom up. Due to life hardships, I am determined to allow my children different experiences and leave them with a strong foundation to build the future that they desire. I love cooking and making fruit trays, it’s relaxing if no one is home. I thoroughly enjoy working with older adults in therapeutic environments.
Why is it so important for everyone to prioritize their mental health?
Dr. Ashley Lowe-Simmons: It is critical to prioritize your mental health because it is the foundation of everything we experience in life and often the most neglected. We don’t understand our relationships, diet, physical activity, past experiences, etc. When we learn to prioritize our mental health it improves our feelings, our thought life, our experiences, our interactions, and our overall well-being.
Do you believe in work-life balance? If so, how do you maintain it?
Dr. Ashley Lowe-Simmons: I actually don’t believe in balance at all. I do believe that we all have life responsibilities and some of us have more responsibility than others, so we have to give attention to multiple areas of our life. In order to achieve “balance” it is about giving undivided attention to the areas that require your attention. Give 100% to whatever task is at hand, that way kids, family, work, friends, etc. will have no complaints because you will be more present. Learn to present in the presence of others.
Can you tell us more about your apparel line?
Dr. Ashley Lowe-Simmons: My apparel line is my baby. Mental Health is…. whatever we need it to be. Each design is based on what mental health means to me and to those around me, as well as what I’ve seen in the world. My most recent design was “Mental Health is Accepting My Journey” and it was in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month. Breast Cancer is not an easy journey, but the hope is that one survives everything that is endured in the journey; the acceptance of the journey allows our mind to be in a better condition in order to process the journey which promotes strength in endurance.
What would you like our readers to gain from this interview?
Dr. Ashley Lowe-Simmons: Your mental health matters and addressing your mental health doesn’t mean that you are crazy. I want people to know, understand and believe that everyone has mental health and there are ways that we can manage and improve our mental health. I would also like readers to begin to share and encourage others to begin to have conversations about mental health and mental wellness. I would like us to learn the importance of active listening and learning to empathize with the experiences of those around us. I want readers to define mental health for themselves not based on what a textbook or interview says, but what it genuinely means to them.
How can people connect with you?
Dr. Ashley Lowe-Simmons: Instagram @dr.alosimms
Photo Credits: Aisha Butler Photography
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