Leadership Team

Dr. Karen Westbrooks - Chair

Dr. Karen Westbrooks, the inaugural Chair of AAMFT's Kentucky Interest Network, has been an MFT for more than three decades. She earned her PhD in MFT at Saint Louis University in 1990 and was elected President of KAMFT back in 1998. Under her Leadership, the KAMFT Board had success in achieving mental health parity for the profession which meant MFTs had a place on the Provider List of third party payors such as commercial insurers (Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Cigna, Humana, Tri-Care, United Health Care) and Medicaid.

At the appointment of the KY Governor, Dr. Westbrooks recently served on the KY Board of Licensure for MFTs (2014 – 2018). During this same period, she was elected to a national office and served on the Board of Directors of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (2015 - 2017).

As an academic, she earned tenure at Western Kentucky University (Bowling Green) and for a short time led the MFT program at Campbellsville University (Louisville). In addition to managing a private practice, Jeffersontown Counseling Services, she is building an online MFT Program for Fielding Graduate University which is head-quartered in Santa Barbara, CA.

Ashley Hicks White, PhD, LMFT - Chair Elect

A native of Akron, OH, Ashley Hicks White is a specialist in couples/family therapy, a licensed marriage and family therapist, and an AAMFT Approved Supervisor Candidate. She is currently Assistant Professor of Marriage and Family Therapy at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary where she teaches a variety of classes. Ashley has worked in a number of clinical settings serving clients from diverse backgrounds including racial/ethnic minorities, LGBTQ populations, homeless and low socio-economic individuals and families. She currently operates a small private practice in Louisville, KY where she serves individual, couple, and families in the local community and surrounding areas.

James D. Clines - Treasurer

Even before becoming an LMFT in 2003, professional advocacy has been an interest and passion of Jim's. As a student, he served on the KAMFT managed care committee starting in 1997, and became the appointed chair of that committee in 2001. He continued in service as an appointed at large KAMFT board member after that until 2007. Jim returned as the professional development chair in 2015, until the recent dissolution of the KAMFT. For the past year he has been working closely with leaders from KAMFT and KIN and AAMFT to understand and assist the transition from a state division model to an interest network model. Jim is excited to serve again in this role as KIN treasurer to guide KY MFTs into the new paradigm of interest networks and engagement programming. Join KIN and continue the professional vibrancy of MFT’s in Kentucky!

Mike Rankin, LMFT, LCADC, MA, M.Div. - Legislative Liaison

Mike is a graduate of Louisville Presbyterian Seminary MFT program, graduating in 1995. Mike has been in Private Practice since 2003. He was the Executive Director of KAMFT from 2003 to 2011. He has made several presentations with Dale Bertram and Tony Watkins at AAMFT, TAMFT, and at the Ericksonian Conferences. He also is a partner of InteractiveCETraining with Dale Bertram, PhD and Tony Watkins, MA. Mike and Dale Bertram are completing a book on Ericksonian Supervision. Both are hoping to start writing their next book on the influence of Milton Erickson in developing the Marriage and Family Therapy Profession. Lately Mike has been invited to be the Legislative Liaison for KIN and is looking forward to working on behalf of MFT’s in Kentucky.