Ashley Amundson

Villa Kali Ma, United States

Title: Beyond Abstinence: Trauma-Informed Relapse Prevention in Women’s Mental Health and Illicit Drug Recovery

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Biography

Dr. Ashley Amundson, DBH, LPCC, is a behavioral health executive, licensed clinician, and speaker specializing in women’s mental health, substance use disorders, and trauma-informed care. She serves as Chief Operating Officer of Villa Kali Ma, where she provides clinical and operational oversight for three treatment sites, leading over 30 staff and contractors. Dr. Amundson earned her Doctor of Behavioral Health from Arizona State University and her Master’s in Professional Counseling from Grand Canyon University. She is EMDR trained and integrates evidence-based practices with holistic modalities, including breathwork and Reiki. Her work focuses on addressing the underlying drivers of substance use, including trauma, emotional dysregulation, and relational dynamics. Dr. Amundson has presented at professional conferences on emerging themes in social media and addiction and has served as a guest lecturer for future behavioral health professionals

Abstract

Women with substance use disorders experience disproportionately high rates of trauma, co-occurring mental health conditions, and relapse, yet many addiction treatment models remain insufficiently tailored to their clinical realities. Abstinence-only frameworks often fail to address the underlying drivers of substance use in women, including emotional dysregulation, attachment wounds, shame, and chronic nervous system activation—factors that significantly contribute to relapse risk and treatment disengagement.
This presentation introduces a gender-responsive, trauma-informed model for women’s mental health within addiction medicine that moves beyond symptom-focused care toward addressing root causes of substance use. Drawing on current evidence from cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing (MI), and trauma-informed care, this session integrates practical relapse prevention strategies with emerging approaches focused on emotional regulation and nervous system stabilization
Attendees will examine how adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), relational trauma, and identity disruption uniquely shape substance use trajectories in women, as well as how these factors manifest clinically through patterns of relapse, interpersonal vulnerability, and maladaptive coping. Through applied case examples, participants will learn how to identify gender-specific risk factors, intervene earlier, and implement individualized, evidence-informed treatment strategies that support long-term recovery.
This session is designed for clinicians and multidisciplinary professionals seeking to improve outcomes for women impacted by illicit drug use. By bridging established addiction treatment models with modern, trauma-informed practices, this presentation offers a clinically relevant and immediately applicable framework for reducing relapse and enhancing engagement in a high-risk, evolving treatment landscape.