MBP: Your family has a wonderful non-profit organization called True Beauty Heals. Could you share about this?
Ashley: Our story began in tragedy in 2015, when a devastating house fire claimed the life of our daughter, Lon’Don, and left our other daughter, Justice, critically injured and coding over three times.
From that pain, we built purpose turning our journey into books, advocacy, and a growing nonprofit that helps children and families heal from trauma.
Actually, Justice and I have authored several books together — ‘True Beauty: A Story by a Burn Survivor’, ‘You Are a True Beauty’, ‘Vampire Dad’, and the up-and-coming ‘True Beauty Heals: Through the Eyes of A Broken Heart’.
These books aren’t just stories. They represent survival and legacy. They prove that even in the darkest moments, you can still choose light.
MBP: Tell us about your journey to becoming a life coach and mental health therapist.
Ashley: I pursued counseling because I knew firsthand how vital healing is. I earned my Bachelor’s and Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling while caring for my daughter Justice through dozens of surgeries, therapies, and hospital stays — all while working and supporting my family. My mission as both therapist and life coach is to empower others to find strength in their scars, turning pain into resilience.
MBP: How do you manage the emotional toll of working with clients who have experienced significant trauma?
Ashley: I’ve walked through my own storms, so I remind myself I can’t pour from an empty cup. I don’t carry my clients’ pain as my own, but I help them carry it differently. Prayer, journaling, and family time keep me grounded so I don’t lose myself in their struggles.
MBP: How do you foster a sense of safety and trust with clients who may be wary or distant?
Ashley: Trust takes consistency. Sometimes it’s silence, sometimes it’s sharing pieces of my own story. When people see you as human first, not just a professional, that’s when they start to feel safe.
MBP: What is your favorite, most reliable way to take care of yourself?
Ashley: Dancing, writing, laughing with my family. Simple moments, road trips, movie nights, inside jokes, those fill me back up. And of course, prayer and affirmations keep me in alignment.
MBP: What drains your energy the most? How do you set boundaries around it?
Ashley: It is draining always being the strong one. People assume I don’t need support, but I do. I’ve learned to protect my peace by saying ‘not right now’ and sometimes just turning off my phone. Boundaries aren’t selfish they’re survival.
MBP: How important is having a support system for your well-being?
Ashley: A solid support system is everything. My family, my faith, and my trusted circle are why I can keep going. Healing isn’t done in isolation. Everyone needs people who remind them of who they are when they forget.
MBP: What phrase has helped you through hard times?
Ashley: My daughter gave me a new one, she calls it ‘Clock it.’ She says when something is good, you notice it, you celebrate it, you ‘clock it.’ Sharing that joy can make the next person smile and lift their confidence. The phrase is powerful, because it teaches me to acknowledge the good, even in hard seasons.
Rapid Fire Fun
- Daytime or Nighttime? Nighttime — I could sleep all day and stay up all night if I could.
- Dream vacation? Africa. I love animals, so it is our family dream to go to Africa.
- Sweet or Salty? Salty — give me pickles with some Kool-Aid on the side.
- Superpower you’d like to have? To disappear, so I could sit in a room and observe everything without being seen.
- Describe yourself in one word. Humble.
Ashley Nodd, a Mobile, AL native, is a licensed mental health therapist, certified life coach, and the heart behind the True Beauty Heals movement. Ashley has been married to her husband, Antwuan, for 13 years. They are the proud parents of Justice, a 10-year-old burn survivor and published author, and Jaakil, their 17-year-old son.
