Title: 1) Clinical Director; 2) Supervisor; 3) Founder; 4) Adjunct Professor
Company: 1) The Sentinel Foundation; 2) Behavioral Wellness Group; 3) A Poklar Ponders; 4) Capella University
Location: Chagrin Falls, Ohio, United States
Ashley E. Poklar, Clinical Director at The Sentinel Foundation, Supervisor at Behavioral Wellness Group, Founder at A Poklar Ponders, and Adjunct Professor at Capella University, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Doctors for dedication, achievements, and leadership in child and adolescent psychology.
Renowned for her dedication to systemic change and holistic approaches to child wellness, Dr. Poklar has excelled as the clinical director of The Sentinel Foundation since 2023, the founder of A Poklar Ponders since 2022, the clinical coordinator at The Behavioral Wellness Group since 2018, and an adjunct professor at Capella University. She began her career as a special education teacher in the Charleston County School District from 2007 to 2008 before being appointed as a teacher counselor with the Positive Education Program from 2008 to 2010. Completing a clinical mental health internship in the Juvenile Detention Center’s Mental Health Unit under Cleveland Catholic Charities from 2012 to 2013, Dr. Poklar subsequently served at Cleveland State University as a counseling psychology PhD student from 2013 to 2018, a graduate assistant for the McNair Scholars Program from 2013 to 2015, a teaching assistant from 2014 to 2015, and an adjunct professor from 2016 to 2019.
During her tenure at Cleveland State University, Dr. Poklar was additionally active as a psychology practicum student at the Cleveland Clinic from 2014 to 2015, a psychology testing practicum-level intern with Ohio Guidestone from 2015 to 2016, and an outpatient therapy practicum student at Applewood Centers Inc. from 2016 to 2017. Moreover, she was recruited to the adjunct faculty at Northeast Ohio Medical University between 2015 and 2016. In addition to her present positions, Dr. Poklar had found success as a school psychologist for Hawken School from 2019 to 2022 and the clinical director for Omphalos (Protect, Prevent, Nurture) from 2019 to 2023.
A first-generation college student, Dr. Poklar pursued an education at the College of Charleston, from which she initially earned a Bachelor of Science in special education and teaching in 2007. She continued her academic efforts with a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling at Cleveland State University in 2013. Dr. Poklar concluded her formal studies at Cleveland State University in 2018, graduating with a Doctor of Philosophy in counseling psychology.
Beyond her primary responsibilities, Dr. Poklar has participated in numerous endeavors outside of her immediate circles. She has been affiliated with the American Psychological Association, with which she has further contributed as a campus representative for their trauma division from 2013 to 2018, the co-chair of mentoring initiatives from 2015 to 2018, and a former member of the Student Affiliates of Seventeen. Dr. Poklar has also maintained her involvement with the American Counseling Association.
In light of her impressive undertakings, Dr. Poklar has accrued several accolades throughout her career. She was notably recognized with a Graduate Student Teacher of the Year Award from Cleveland State University. She was likewise presented with a Commendation and an Outstanding Teaching Award from Capella University. Dr. Poklar has attributed her success to her ability to focus on cost-effective and sustainable changes in her field at a systemic level, which enables her to see a bigger picture that positively impacts her clients and her community.
Dr. Poklar’s dedication to education and mental health advocacy has been a consistent theme throughout her career, reflecting her passion for improving the well-being of individuals across diverse communities. Her initial dream of becoming a zoologist shifted as she discovered her passion for amplifying marginalized voices, particularly those facing adversity, over the course of her student teaching experience. Among her numerous professional accomplishments, she is incredibly proud of supporting and fortifying a family of five children who were facing significant traumas and challenges by providing critical and comprehensive psychological evaluations and advocacy efforts. In the coming years, Dr. Poklar hopes to utilize her interactive holistic programs and aftercare services to help support children in need while addressing child exploitation and abuse on a domestic and international scale.
For more information, please visit:
Press Release
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The Sentinel Foundation
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