From overcoming childhood abuse to founding Visionary Woman Productions, Ashley-Lauren Elrod’s journey of resilience and advocacy has empowered countless others. Her story underscores the power of healing, awareness, and using personal experiences to inspire social impact (Photos Provided by Ashley-Lauren Elrod).
Ashley-Lauren Elrod always believed she was born to stand out.
As the CEO of Visionary Woman Productions and a dedicated mental health coach, she is deeply committed to social impact, advocacy and fostering authentic healing. Her work reflects a passion for empowering others and creating meaningful change.
She says, “The strongest soldiers get the toughest battles.”
She has always felt destined to break generational cycles. Her passion for advocacy and helping others runs deep, particularly in educating people about the pervasive and deeply rooted issues of exploitation and abuse. Recognizing the world’s long history of trauma, her dedication to raising awareness has not only profoundly impacted others but has also been a crucial part of her healing journey.
Moreover, Ashley’s story not only exemplifies the power of overcoming but ultimately shows how one can use one’s trauma to improve the lives of others, especially young people.
The Journey of Ashley’s Trauma
Ashley traces her trauma back to her early childhood when she first experienced abuse at the age of six. Growing up in an environment where silence often surrounded complex issues, her pain remained buried for years.
It wasn’t until her teenage years, when another family member came forward with their own story of abuse, that Ashley’s trauma began to unravel. What had been hidden in secrecy for so long finally came to light, forcing Ashley to confront the painful reality she had been carrying since childhood.
Born in Chicago’s Morgan Park area, with deep family roots, the city has always been home for her. About seven years ago, a move to Brooklyn seemed like a temporary break from the norm, but time has flown by, and she has resided in Brooklyn ever since.
Ashley is a survivor of multiple forms of trauma, including childhood sexual abuse and domestic violence. She acknowledges the difficulty in discussing these experiences due to their complexity but notes that, like many, she grew up in a family where such issues were not openly addressed. In her case, they were ignored or brushed aside, with everyone simply moving on.
“Growing up, access to therapy was limited because, like many families of color, my parents didn’t believe in it,” she said. “The focus was always on ‘Giving it to God’ and trusting that things would work. However, I eventually reached a point where I needed to take a more active approach to healing. I wanted to heal differently.”
However, a pivotal moment occurred during her senior year of high school. At 17, her story started to unravel when another family member, who had been struggling, came forward about their abuse.
A court case followed, which is rare for survivors, but they could pursue justice through the legal system. It was a moment that marked a significant turning point in her life. Even after going through the legal process, the trauma remained. Having lived in secrecy for so long, she was suddenly expected to move on as if everything was fine, but it wasn’t.
Approaching high school graduation and the transition to college left her with little time to process everything. It took significant reflection to realize that running from her pain wasn’t an option. Overworking and pretending everything was fine were not solutions, and only years after college did the weight of it all truly affect her.
“After college, when I didn’t have the structure of school or work to distract me, all the suppressed trauma started resurfacing. In 2013, I had so much more free time, and with that came the weight of everything I had been pushing down,” Ashley said. “I had also just left a manipulative and abusive relationship, which triggered even more emotional pain. All of it led to PTSD, deep depression, and, eventually, my suicide attempts in 2014.”
For those in that space, the experience is often multifaceted.
In her case, she was fully committed to ending her life and had planned to jump off a bridge on I-90 near her apartment at Presidential Towers in the West Loop. Instead, she opted for a bottle of pills.
At that moment, one of her coworkers called, sensing something was wrong, and was already on her way over with her now-husband. It felt almost like fate or a spiritual force was at play, as their timing was impeccable. They arrived just in time, saving her from what could have been a fatal overdose.
The Journey of Healing: A Gradual Process
After her suicide attempt, her healing didn’t come instantly.
It was a spiritual and emotional journey without a “light bulb” moment where she felt better. It took time, and she is still on that path today.
The process of recovery began after her life was saved, marked by a profound spiritual awakening that left her in awe. Ashley’s friends who witnessed it saw the change in her.
However, even after that, she faced a long road filled with fog, numbness, sleepless nights and navigating through the darkness. Ashley needed time, support and significant self-work to piece herself together slowly.
“When people ask me how I got back on track, I often say that healing is a lifelong journey. There’s no quick fix, and we need to stop expecting one,” she said. “Healing is complex, especially when you’ve been through trauma. For me, therapy was essential, and I began to ground myself in activities I’ve always loved—nature, swimming and horseback riding.”
“I leaned into my family’s traditions and found strength in those roots. I also started to change my diet and focused on holistic healing methods, all of which helped me regain control of my anxiety and overall health.”
Ashley added, “But speaking openly about my story is the most healing thing for me. Sharing my journey with others has been incredibly cathartic. I’ve been an advocate over the last 11 or 12 years, and that work has given me purpose. I’m deeply grateful for it; it helps me keep moving forward.”
Collaborating for Change: Ashley’s Work with the Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center
Ashley recently hosted the “A Night of Heroes” event in collaboration with the Chicago Advocacy Center, where she serves as a committee member and advisory board host. She stated they were fortunate to have Abby Elliott from the Chicago-based television show “The Bear” join for the silent auction.
Additionally, Ashley is on the advisory board for Project Hope, which is currently being developed as the first co-networked space in the U.S. dedicated to survivors of sexual abuse and trafficking, which is also set to be located in Chicago.
Visionary Woman Productions: Empowering Voices, Transforming Stories
Ashley’s passion and creativity during college played a vital role in her healing journey and in shaping her career. While working for Lily’s Talent Agency in Chicago and attending Columbia College, she developed the skills and purpose that ultimately led her to establish her own production company, Visionary Woman Productions.
“Visionary Woman Productions began while I was still at Columbia. I had already signed with an agent and gained some industry experience then,” she said. “What struck me was that while Columbia provided a great education, we weren’t learning much about the industry’s business side.”
I knew I had valuable knowledge from my own experiences that could help my peers. So, I started organizing workshops and offering guidance on headshots, resumes and cover letters—essentially providing industry insights that most students didn’t have,” she said.
Her first significant casting job was for the TV show Shameless, a milestone in her career. Ashley offered talent consultations, short-term management and casting, emphasizing safe and wise career choices to clients. She has consistently advocated for careful industry navigation, stressing the importance of reading contracts, hiring lawyers and ensuring parents are involved at every stage for child actors.
Being An Advocate for Kids
One of her key roles was advocating for kids on set. She was a point of contact for children needing support when their parents were away, ensuring they felt comfortable and safe. Her mission focused on protection and safety for both kids and adults.
Ashley is also working on creating a non-profit called “Safe On Set,” which aims to train advocates in mental health awareness and on-set safety, especially for youth. The goal is to certify professionals to handle crisis management and counseling, ensuring every set has a dedicated advocate to support anyone who feels uncomfortable or needs help. She is excited to develop this initiative further and make it standard in the industry.
Her film “Verge of Remembrance” is a psychological thriller inspired by her personal experiences with childhood abuse and PTSD. It follows the protagonist, Kayla, who faces a significant life change while haunted by fragmented memories. The film explores PTSD in real time, illustrating how trauma manifests both mentally and physically.
Ashley aimed to capture the feeling of PTSD as an out-of-body experience, highlighting the horrors of trauma alongside the beauty of healing, forgiveness and familial love. The film, described as a haunting healing journey, keeps viewers questioning reality until pivotal moments of revelation.
The film also seeks to raise awareness and funds for the Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center.
Ultimately, Ashley emphasized that her journey wasn’t an immediate “snap-out-of-it” moment. Many people misunderstand what it means to be a suicide survivor. In reality, the experience is far more profound.
She wants to share her story to show others they can survive, too.
“People often don’t understand that surviving an attempt doesn’t mean I simply woke up and chose to stop. I went through with it, and by the grace of God, I survived. It’s rare for survivors to share their stories, as many don’t make it. Others may feel uncomfortable discussing their experiences due to their emotional weight. But I’m here and view telling my story as a blessing and a responsibility.”
For more information on Ashley-Lauren Elrod and her company, Visionary Woman Productions, visit https://www.visionarywomanproductions.com/
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