08/28/2026
Life Help Community Mental Health Center’s Washington County office happily honored two special people this month.
Ashley Thomas is the Request for Services therapist and celebrated her 5-year anniversary with Life Help in August. She grew up in Vicksburg with parents who are marriage and family therapists. “My whole life [was] filled with helping others as my dad was the executive director for a non-profit organization in Vicksburg that helped young people by providing juvenile diversion programs. I started as a youth care worker at 16. I have a passion for helping others! I got a great example from my parents who are known for helping others in the community.“
She worked with children and families in school-based therapy before beginning her work in Request for Services, a place where she is able to help people who enter Life Help services initially, often during their most difficult or challenging moments. She is responsible for ensuring a person receives the support and resources they need within the therapeutic milieu Life Help provides.
Ashley is now very close to completing her Ph.D. in psychology and tells us,
“As Nelson Mandela said, ‘The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall,’ a sentiment that reflects the resilience I witness daily in our clients. This journey has taught me the importance of empathy, hope, and community as we support individuals facing challenges. I am proud to be part of a dedicated team committed to making a difference in the lives of those we serve, and I look forward to continuing this work in the years ahead.”
Julie Ousley is the front desk receptionist and celebrated her 10-year anniversary this month. She says she has learned so much throughout the years, especially how to listen and talk people who are going through something difficult, and she notices how people gravitate to her now because of that. She loves talking to people who come to her window, “You try to hear them out and learn what they are really going through.”
She says she has found that she always wants to learn more, and Abigail Courtney, ICORT South team leader and therapist, is responsible for lighting a fire in her to go back to school and earn her degree. Julie will graduate with her BSW in September and will begin work on her Ph.D. in October.
Julie is a mother and says she has a passion for helping “individuals and families who may be facing difficult circumstances and need someone to advocate for them…I believe in pushing people to see possibilities in themselves that they may not yet see. Helping people move forward is more than my profession, it is part of who I am.”
She is from Greenville, so working in community mental health here means helping her hometown community. “I wanted to be in a field where I could make a difference beyond the walls of an office and meet people where they are. Over the years, community mental health has allowed me to support individuals during some of the most challenging times in their lives, connect them with needed resources, and help them recognize that change and recovery are possible. After more than 10 years in this field, I still find purpose in knowing that the work we do can positively impact not only one person, but an entire family and community.”
Both of these women have careers, families, friends, and personal goals and values that bring their lives meaning. They also have found space in their lives to advance their education in fields that will allow them to maximize their impact on the lives of people in Washington County, Mississippi.
We are proud of you both! 💚
