Ashya Black

Mental Health Counselor, The Stepping Stones Group, LLC

Eden, NC 27288

Certifications · Degrees · Memberships

Degree Capella University Degree Guilford College Cert Certified in First Aid Training Cert Certified in Mental Health Crisis Intervention Cert Associate License (Mental Health Counselor)

Her Story

About Ashya

Ashya Black is a dedicated mental health professional and educator who specializes in supporting children, adolescents, young adults, and families as they navigate trauma, anxiety, behavioral challenges, and major life transitions. With a compassionate and relationship-centered approach, she creates safe, supportive spaces where clients can openly express themselves, build emotional resilience, and develop healthy coping strategies. Her ability to foster trust and meaningful connections allows clients to feel seen, heard, and empowered throughout their healing journey.

Drawing from a strong foundation in education and counseling, Ashya brings a unique perspective to her clinical work. Prior to entering the mental health field, she served as a kindergarten teacher, where she developed a deep understanding of child development, learning styles, and the importance of nurturing environments. She currently works as a Mental Health Practitioner with The Stepping Stones Group and as a Special Education Paraprofessional with National Heritage Academies, combining her expertise in education and mental health to support the holistic growth of young people.

Ashya earned her Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling from Capella University and is currently working toward full clinical licensure. Passionate about increasing mental health awareness and accessibility, particularly within underserved communities, she is committed to helping individuals and families recognize that seeking support is a sign of strength. Through authenticity, empathy, and professional dedication, Ashya strives to encourage personal growth, emotional well-being, and lasting positive change in the lives of those she serves.

Her Interview

Ten minutes with Ashya

01What do you attribute your success to?

My ability to build rapport is what I attribute my success to. It's just so natural for me to build that bond and that level of trust with clients. I mean, I'm just some random stranger they're telling their feelings to, but because I'm able to build that rapport, it makes them more comfortable to be able to communicate with me about whatever's going on. It becomes not a stranger situation - this person is a safe person, this person is here for me. That rapport building is definitely the biggest part of my success.

02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?

The best career advice I've ever received is that self-care is the best care. If I'm not in a space that's healthy for me, I can't be the best I can for other people. So really prioritizing self-care and taking it seriously is crucial so I won't burn out. You have to take care of yourself first in order to be there for others.

03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?

If you feel like this is your calling, it probably is, and don't ignore that calling. Do your research and get advice from other people in the field before you get into it. Finding your niche is so important because it's easy to get imposter syndrome as a mental health therapist - you're just kind of like, where do I go from here? But finding what works for you, what populations work for you, what modalities work for you, is definitely key. Take a little bit, piece of this, and piece of that, and make it your own for working in this field. I'm learning that everything doesn't work for everybody, so finding whatever works for you is honestly the best advice I could give. And please, please prioritize that self-care. Because again, if you're not your best self, you can't be that person for other people.

04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?

The biggest challenge in my field is getting families on board with what's going on. Mental health, especially with children, isn't taken as seriously as it should be. There's this attitude of 'that's just how they are, that's just a behavior thing,' but no, it's usually something else. The family's just not seeing what that is because it's been, like, generations of that behavior, or they think 'oh, it's gonna be okay, everything's gonna be okay,' and it's not okay. It's showing in your child, and they're not taking it seriously or addressing what needs to be addressed. Communication and getting families on board has been one of my most difficult spaces.

05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?

Being honest with yourself and with others is definitely a huge value for me. Honesty and transparency are big - just be transparent about whatever's going on, regardless of how somebody else may feel. You have to do it for you. Loving yourself is another great value. You have to love yourself, you have to find that love within yourself, because you can't love other people if you don't find it within yourself. These values must be in order.

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