Ashley Moore

Peer Support Specialist (She/Her/Hers)

SPECIAL INTERESTS: Mental health & Substance use recovery | Self-Harm | Reunification & Re-entry | Trauma recovery | Music

Ashley was raised in a small town in Clark County Wisconsin. She is highly energetic, open (and curious) minded, and strives to do all things with love & kindness. She lives life with a fundamental belief that “there's always hope”.

Ashley was primarily raised with her sister by an amazing father who instilled words of wisdom in her from the start. She knew from a young age that she did “think differently than others”, and these thoughts created feelings/emotions much deeper than she thought children her age were feeling. These thoughts and emotions would eventually shape her character in adulthood.

Ashley became a mother shortly out of high school, and was unable to balance being a teenager and needing to “grow up”.  As a result, she found herself quickly spiraling out of control into the depths of addiction. During this time she was fortunate enough that through the love of those around her- her child was able to be cared for. Through time, Ashley made the reluctant, yet necessary decision to give guardianship to her child’s paternal grandmother. Ashley feels very blessed that her child has grown up seeing the beauty in a family that chose to love above all else and it reflects in the character of herself and her now teenage child.

During Ashley’s 20s she was in and out of various forms of drug rehabilitation centers and mental health facilities. Shortly before turning 30, she started a long-term program in order to rehabilitate her life. She successfully completed the program after 20 months and she finally felt as if she was able to be a productive part of society for the first time in her adult life.

Only two weeks after Ashley completed the long-term program, the COVID lockdown was put into effect. This was something she particularly was not prepared for, like many others. Unable to stay connected to the support systems she needed for her sobriety- she found herself relapsing after 2 years of sobriety. Thankfully, however, Ashley was able to use the skills she had learned in the program to take time to step back and reevaluate herself in order to live a fulfilling, productive life. She soon after enrolled in the first virtual Certified Peer Support Training class she could- giving her life direction and the feeling of purpose once again.

Ashley’s lived experience includes but is not limited to drug addiction & recovery, mental illness (self-harm, anxiety, depression, PMDD), childhood, relationship, and situational/systemic trauma- (such as not being the primary caregiver of her child, being homeless, being a felon, etc). During Ashley’s struggles with mental illness and also addiction for much of her adult life- she learned eventually how to embrace the wisdom that is gained through these experiences.

Ashley has used her lived experience to support others as a peer support specialist in the Chippewa Valley for several years. She has participated in trainings in eCPR, Intentional Peer Support, Certified Peer Support, WRAP, Alternatives to Suicide, and Intercultural Development, to name a few. She also knows the importance of community (support), setting time-specific goals, establishing boundaries, and utilizing available resources. She is able to find some sort of common ground with anyone she meets and is especially passionate about music, people, and learning all that life has to offer. She knows that recovery looks different for everyone and feels fortunate anytime she can be a part of someone's journey. Ashley does not take for granted the moments others are willing to share with her, and hopes to be the change she wants to see in this world (Gandhi).