CURRENT STUDENTS

Ashley Owen
PhD, Director of Counseling Services

Ashley Owen is a National Board Certified Counselor, Licensed Professional Counselor-Supervisor, and a QPR Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Instructor. In 2009, Owen received her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Louisiana Tech University. She returned to Louisiana Tech University to receive a Master of Counseling and Guidance in 2013, and completed her PhD in Marriage and Family Therapy at the University of Louisiana Monroe in 2021. Owen’s clinical interests include anxiety disorders, suicidal ideation, self-harm, disordered eating, and personal growth and development. Her research interest are issues in suicidal bereavement specific to existential regret, sense-making, meaning-making, relational aspects, and the impact of physical exercise on mental health. In her free time, Owen can often be found cheering on the Bulldogs and Lady Techsters, spending time with family, and volunteering.

Antoinette Nieves 
MA, LPC, Assistant Director of Strategic Initiatives

Antoinette Nieves, originally from Keansburg, New Jersey, is a Licensed Professional Counselor. She completed her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology in 2018 and Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling in 2021 from Louisiana Tech University. Nieves’ clinical interests include anxiety, depression, trauma and personality disorders. In her free time, Antoinette enjoys binge-watching crime shows, reading, and spending time with family and friends.

Charli Perry
Counselor / Coordinator of Strategic Initiatives

Charli Perry, originally from Athens, Louisiana, is a Provisional Licensed Professional Counselor. Charli obtained her BA in English at University of Louisiana Monroe in 2020. She graduated with a Master of Science in Clinical and Mental Health Counseling at Southern Arkansas University in 2024. She served in the Army National Guard for six years as a Transportation Specialist, where she earned her title of Sergeant. Her clinical interests include trauma and stress related disorders, grief, disruptive and conduct disorders, substance-use disorders, and adjustment disorder. In her free time, she enjoys reading, having coffee with friends, and spending time with family.

Tony Young
PhD, MP

Dr. Tony Young is a medical psychologist. He graduated with his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Louisiana Tech, prior to earning graduate degrees in Theology and Clinical Psychology from Fuller Seminary, and clinical psychopharmacology from Alliant International University. He is licensed as both a clinical and medical psychologist. Young worked in various settings, including academia, private practice, inpatient psychiatric, addiction treatment, group home facility, and medication management settings. Most of his work in medication management has been in an outpatient setting, where he continues to treat children, adolescents, and young adults. Young enjoys his family, his work, and gardening.

Addison Aschbacher
BA, Master’s Level Intern

Addison Aschbacher, originally from Tyler, Texas, earned her BA in Psychology with a minor in Sport and Exercise Psychology from Louisiana Tech University in 2023. She is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology at Louisiana Tech University and is expected to earn her degree in August 2025. Her clinical interests include anxiety and depression. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and close friends, listening to music, collecting vinyl records, and traveling.

Blaise Caldwell
BA, Doctoral Intern

Blaise Caldwell, originally from Monroe, Louisiana, is a third-year doctoral student in Counseling Psychology at Louisiana Tech University. She obtained her BA in Psychology at Louisiana Tech in 2021. Her clinical interests include but are not limited to anxiety, trauma, depression, and personal growth and development. While her theoretical orientation is integrative, Caldwell primarily utilizes a process-oriented approach along with cognitive-behavioral techniques. In her free time, she enjoys photography, attending concerts, playing games with friends, watching movies, and spending time with loved ones.

Joseph Mendoza
MA, Doctoral Intern

Joseph Mendoza is a Counseling Psychology doctoral student at Louisiana Tech University originally from Phoenix, Arizona. They earned a Psychology bachelor’s degree with Biology minor from Northern Arizona University in 2018, subsequently completing a Masters from their alma mater in Clinical Mental Health Counseling in 2020. Research interests from undergraduate study continuing to drive current clinic interests include working with underserved individuals and/or communities, examining the mind-body connection, and substance use recovery. While the primary theoretical orientation continues developing, preference to emotional processing and exploration with some cognitive-behavioral and Gestalt techniques are used to enhance the therapeutic experience in and out of session. During their free time, working out, camping, playing video games, and relaxing with both cats Jazz and Acree are go-to self-care hobbies.

Lauren Suess (Elle),
BA, Master’s Level Intern

Elle is a West-Coast native, earning her Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Oregon and later moving to Ruston from the Los Angeles area. She is currently pursuing her Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from ULM, with completion set for Spring 2025. Her clinical interests include stress and anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, trauma, relational issues, multicultural concerns, as well as working with the LGBTQ+ and neurodivergent communities. Elle’s therapeutic approach is eclectic, utilizing a combination of modalities in a neurodivergent-affirming space. In her free time, she enjoys working out, traveling for foodie events, playing video games, and expressing herself creatively through various artistic outlets.

Jodi Tyler
MA, MS, Doctoral Intern

Jodi Tyler is a Counseling Psychology doctoral intern at Louisiana Tech University and has lived in Louisiana since she was 8 years old. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Pre-Medicine in 1988 and a Master of Science in Psychology in 1990, both from Northeast Louisiana University. She also earned a Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy in 2021 from the University of Louisiana at Monroe. Her clinical interests include depression, anxiety, personality disorders, adjustment disorder, and trauma. In her spare time, she enjoys reading and spending time with her husband of 35 years and her two grown children. She is a big fan of true crime documentaries, psychological thrillers, cats, and all things Disney.