Founder, Registered Psychologist
Please note: Ashley is only accepting new virtual clients
ashley@healmyheart.ca
(780) 288-8011
Specialties
Grief
Suicide Loss
Pregnancy Loss
Divorce or Break-Up
Women’s Issues
Relationship Difficulties
Clients
Adults
Training
The Grief Recovery Method®
EMDR
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Ashley Mielke brings forth over 14 years of therapeutic experience. She has been a Level II Advanced Certified Grief Recovery Specialist® and Registered Psychologist in Edmonton since 2013. She has extensive experience providing therapy services to individuals, couples, and families, and has been qualified to provide Expert Witness testimony in court proceedings. Ashley also has a background in academia. She taught two undergraduate psychology courses at Concordia University College of Alberta for four years.
Prior to completing her 1600 hour residency as a Registered Psychologist in private practice, Ashley obtained her Master of Science in Marital and Family Therapy from Loma Linda University, California. Ashley graduated Summa Cum Laude (Highest Academic Distinction).
While obtaining her Master’s degree, she completed an extensive two-year clinical internship as a Marriage and Family Therapist in private practice. During Ashley’s internship she provided therapy and assessment services to individuals, couples, families, and groups and obtained her Level One Training in Gottman Method Couples Therapy. She is passionate about supporting people through family, couples, and individual counselling.
Upon full registration as a psychologist in 2013, Ashley became a Certified Grief Recovery Specialist®. Ashley had the honour of training under the Founder of The Grief Recovery Institute®, John James. The day after completing the certification training, Ashley founded The Grief and Trauma Healing Centre. She knew serving grieving people would become her life’s work.
In 2014, Ashley became Canada’s exclusive Grief Recovery Method® Certification Trainer, where she trains registered psychologists, mental health professionals, physicians and nurses, church pastors, funeral professionals, first-responders, military personnel, life coaches, educators, and several others from around the world in The Grief Recovery Method®. Since 2020, Ashley has served as an international trainer for The Grief Recovery Institute®, certifying professionals across four different countries in the method. Ashley is 1 of 15 trainers in the world who has the privilege of certifying people in this powerful method.
In 2020, Ashley obtained EMDR Basic Training through EMDR Consulting, an EMDRIA approved training.
In 2021, Ashley embarked on her Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) journey through California Southern University, focusing on suicide bereavement and post-traumatic growth and meaning-making following suicide loss. This specialized training reflects her deep commitment to understanding the complexities of grief after suicide and better equipping her clients with the tools to experience healing, resilience, and growth after such profound loss.
In 2022, Ashley joined The Practice of the Practice team as a business consultant, helping heart-centred therapy practice owners start, grow, and scale their businesses.
In 2024, Ashley made the heartfelt decision to sell The Grief and Trauma Healing Centre to Insight Psychological. She did so with complete confidence that the new ownership would carry forward the brand’s mission and vision with dedication and commitment. This transition allowed Ashley to step back and focus on her own journey of service to others within the grief space.
Ashley’s educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts in Applied Psychology from Concordia University College of Alberta and completion of two undergraduate clinical placements in the mental health field; one at an out-patient clinic for Alberta Health Services and the other in forensic psychiatry at Alberta Hospital Edmonton.
When Ashley is not in the office, you can find her speaking at conferences and community events and facilitating professional workshops, training, and consultation on the topic of grief and loss.
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Ashley is a member in good standing with the College of Alberta Psychologists, Psychologists’ Association of Alberta, and The Grief Recovery Institute.
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Diverse Voices Family Violence Conference: Healing From the Grief of Family Violence, November 17, 2022
Earls Restaurant, From Her View: Women in Leadership Summit, Panel Speaker, November 8, 2022
Survivors of Suicide Loss Day, Stony Plain Suicide Prevention Program, Keynote Speaker, November 20, 2021
Elevate: Hope, The Virtual Effect, Keynote Speaker, November 9, 2021
Tee it Up for Mental Health, Annual Golf Tournament, Keynote Speaker, August 26, 2021
Newfoundland and Labrador Counsellors’ and Psychologists’ Association, 2-Day Professional Learning Workshop Facilitator, June 3 & 10, 2021
WESK Summit, Women Entrepreneurs Saskatchewan, Morning Keynote Speaker, May 20, 2021
Alberta Pharmacists’ Association, Conference Speaker, November 14, 2020
Helping Families Navigate the Grief of Living with a Brain Tumour, Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada, Workshop Speaker, October 24, 2020
Grief and Dementia, Caregivers Alberta, Workshop Speaker, June 30, 2020
Breaking Through the Barriers of Unresolved Grief, The Rotary Club of Edmonton, Keynote Speaker, January 6, 2020
Keys to Creating a Successful Grief Recovery Business, Grief Recovery International Conference, September 2018
Grief and Compassion, Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada Conference, Keynote Speaker, June 9, 2018
Grief and Compassion, Bowden Federal Institution, Two-Day Corporate Training, September 28-29, 2017
Grief and Compassion, Hillberg and Berk Retail Manager Brand Conference, Workshop Speaker, April 25, 2017
The Power of the Grief Recovery Method in a Mental Health Setting, Grief Recovery International Conference, October 29, 2016
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My journey into grief and trauma work is deeply personal. It wasn’t solely my academic or clinical training that led me here, but the painful losses I experienced, including my fathers struggles with alcohol and substance abuse, and his death by suicide. Through my own healing, I found a profound calling to help others navigate the depths of their grief and loss.
As a Registered Psychologist and Advanced Certified Grief Recovery Specialist, I have facilitated over 1,800 Grief Recovery Method® programs since 2013, supporting people through a wide range of losses—whether death, divorce, breakups, infidelity, miscarriage, infertility, postpartum depression, financial struggles, job loss, childhood abuse, substance dependence, or the loss of health, dreams, and expectations.
I am currently a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) Candidate, in the doctoral project phase of my journey, at California Southern University. My research focuses on the key factors that promote growth and meaning in adults bereaved by suicide. My heart is devoted to serving grieving individuals, and this program is a reflection of my commitment to help in even greater, more impactful ways.
Outside of work, my greatest joy comes from spending time with my husband and two sons. I love creating lasting memories on family vacations to Hawaii and Arizona and staying active by playing hockey. I’m also a dedicated hockey mom, and you can often find me cheering from the stands at the rink on weekends!
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Ashley was recognized as one of Edify’s esteemed Top 40 Under 40 for Class of 2021.
Ashley was featured in a TELUS Optik TV docuseries in 2022 called The Magazine Club in season one, episode two, The Body Knows.
Ashley was a contributing author for a Medical Assistance in Dying Reflection Tool for Pharmacists with the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Alberta in 2023.
Ashley co-authored an eBook with The Grief Recovery Institute titled Postpartum Grief in August of 2017.
Ashley has been featured in the following podcasts and interviews:
Authenticity in Leadership - The One Program Podcast, June 2023
Healing from Grief with Ashley Mielke - Real Dads Podcast with Brad Moser, January 2023
Healing During the Holidays - CBC Radio - Radio Active with Jessica Ng and Min Dhariwal, December 2022
Finding Purpose Through Healing - The Brand is Female Podcast, November 2022
The Ripple Effect - The One Program Podcast, November 2022
How Do I Work With Grief As a Therapist? - What the ____ Am I Doing?! And Other Questions Podcast, August 2022
How I Got Through My Father’s Suicide - The Practice of the Practice Podcast, July 2022
Holistic Healing from Grief and Trauma: Steps to End Your Emotional Pain and Suffering - The North Bank Media Podcast, June 2022
Ashley Mielke and The Grief and Trauma Healing Centre - Single Parent Podcast, March 2022
Compassion and Conflict: A Vulnerable Conversation - Cool Clients Podcast with Pamela Adam, September 2021
Time Does Not Heal All Wounds - Anything but Simple Talk Podcast with Simply Susylicious, August 2021
Understanding Grief During the Pandemic - The Inner Circle Podcast with Carrie Doll, July 2020
Managing Grief and Anxiety Through Covid - Benoit Wellness Consulting, April 2020
Grief During Covid - Blushed Beaute, April 2020
Mental Health: What’s in Your Tool Kit? - Yeg Boss Babes and The Wellness Warrior, April 2020
The Healing Transformation - The Inner Circle Podcast with Carrie Doll, November 2019
The Future of Leadership Development and Creating Psychological Safety - The CultureING Podcast with Tynan Allan, October 2019
Ashley has been featured in the following articles and blogs:
Plane Crash Highlights Importance of Support After a Workplace Tragedy - Canadian HR Reporter, February 2024
Go Solo, Interview Series - SubKit, August 2022
365 Days, 365 Women - 365 Days, 365 Women, April 2022
On the Edge of Suicide - Edify Magazine, Winter Edition, January 2022
A Woman A Day YEG - iHeart Radio/104.9 Virgin Radio, December 2020
How to Deal if You Can’t Visit a Loved One Who’s Dying – Huffington Post Canada, April 2020
It’s Okay if You’re Not Being Productive During the Covid-19 Pandemic – Huffington Post Canada, April 2020
What Do the Divided Reactions to Kobe Bryant’s Death Teach Us About Grief? – Huffington Post Canada, February 2020
23 Experts Share the Best Ways to Support Someone Who is Grieving – Sympathy Message Ideas Blog, August 2018
Grief and the Assisted Death – Canadian Funeral News, September 2017
The Grief Recovery Method in Therapeutic Practice – The Grief Recovery Institute Blog, February 2017
The Canine Comforter – Edmonton Lifestyle News for People 50 Plus, January 2016
What to Say in Difficult Times – Canadian Living, July 2015
Ashley has appeared on Global TV Health Matters, Global TV Morning and Evening News, CTV Morning News, and CBC and Global Radio for topics including nomophobia, shopping dependence, hospital lotteries, recovering from grief, suicide and grief, grief support after the Humboldt Broncos bus accident, supporting grieving teenagers, grief and the holidays, the opioid crisis, and Covid-19 grief.