Dr. Ashley Brauer

My Approach

My work is grounded in evidence-based psychological treatments, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Motivational Interviewing.

These approaches are tailored to each individual and are used to support sleep, performance, stress, behavioral patterns, and mental health concerns.

CBT-I is considered the first-line treatment recommendation for insomnia, and ACT-informed approaches are widely used in performance psychology to support focus, flexibility, and psychological resilience under pressure.

Therapy is a collaborative and individualized process.

My focus is on helping clients understand patterns, strengthen adaptive behaviors, and build tools that support both daily functioning and longer-term goals.

My Journey

I have long been interested in the connection between mind, behavior, and physical performance. My background includes training in kinesiology, psychology, and sport and exercise psychology, as well as clinical work in health psychology, behavioral sleep medicine, and performance-focused settings.

As a former athlete and coach, I understand how stress, expectations, and underutilized psychological tools can impact both well-being and performance.

My training and clinical experience have included living and studying in multiple countries, shaping a broad perspective on behavior, performance, and health across different contexts.

Over time, my work has focused on helping individuals address foundational factors—sleep, behavioral patterns, stress, and mental health—that influence how they function and perform across domains of life.

Professional Background

• Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and Psychology, University of Minnesota

• Master of Science in Sport and Exercise Psychology, Lund University (Sweden) and the University of Leipzig (Germany) through the Erasmus Mundus Scholarship Program 

• PhD in Clinical Psychology at Saint Louis University

• APA-accredited pre-doctoral internship in Health Psychology at the University of Missouri

• Recipient of the Sleep Research Society’s Mentor-Mentee Award

• Post-doctoral fellowship at the Victory Program at McCallum Place, St. Louis, Missouri

• Diplomate in Behavioral Sleep Medicine by the Board of Behavioral Sleep Medicine 

Throughout my career, I have worked within healthcare settings, university athletic departments, and a residential eating disorder treatment program for athletes. I currently provide telehealth services and am licensed in Iowa, Minnesota, New York, and PSYPACT states.