​​​

At Wild Ember Psychiatry & Therapy, supporting veterans and members of the law enforcement community is not just a service we offer- it is a population deeply important to our practice and our values.

 

Our owner, Marc McDonnell, is a United States Marine Corps veteran and former law enforcement officer. Ashleigh McDonnell, PMHNP-BC and owner, is the daughter of two veterans and has spent her career working closely with service members, veterans, and first responders. This lived and professional experience informs the way care is delivered at Wild Ember.

 

We recognize that this population is often misunderstood, and that service-related experiences can present in complex, nuanced ways that require specialized clinical insight.

​

Service-Connected & Work-Related Mental Health Concerns

 

As a service-connected disabled veteran, Marc brings lived understanding of the VA disability system and the ways service-related conditions can impact daily functioning over time. Through both personal and professional experience, Ashleigh and Marc understand the complexity of VA disability ratings and the importance of thorough, accurate psychiatric assessment.

 

Ashleigh has extensive experience and dedicates significant time to researching VA disability criteria to ensure evaluations, clinical documentation, and treatment planning are comprehensive, appropriate, and aligned with the needs of veterans seeking care related to service-connected mental health concerns.

 

We also work closely with law enforcement officers navigating work-related mental health conditions, including those covered under the Craig Tiger Act, which recognizes the impact of service-related trauma in first responders and allows for access to workers’ compensation benefits for qualifying mental health conditions.

 

Our practice has experience supporting officers through:

 

• Psychiatric evaluation and diagnosis

• Treatment planning and stabilization

• Documentation for work-related mental health claims

• Coordination with systems such as workers’ compensation, FMLA, and long-term disability 

 

We understand the complexity of these processes, including medical separation considerations, functional impairment documentation, and the transition from employment-based roles into benefit-supported care when clinically necessary.

 

Ashleigh has extensive experience working with this population and understands the unique challenges involved in communication, trust-building, and navigating systems of care. Her approach is detail-oriented and clinically thorough, and she is often able to identify contributing factors or symptom patterns that may be overlooked within larger systems of care.

 

Evaluations and recommendations are grounded in clinical findings and focused on treatment planning, clarity, and appropriate documentation when clinically indicated.

 

Insurance & Access

 

We are in-network with TRICARE and accept referrals through the VA Community Care Network (VA CCN) when authorized. Services are provided virtually across Arizona and in person in Queen Creek.​

​

Scope of Care

​

Wild Ember Psychiatry & Therapy is an outpatient practice and does not provide forensic evaluations, legal opinions, or court-mandated services. Care is focused on clinical assessment, treatment, and ongoing psychiatric support.

​

Priority Scheduling

​

We value the work and sacrifice of this population and offer priority scheduling. Appointments can be requested by emailing priority@wildemberpsych.com or by coordinating through your VA CCN Care Manager for scheduling assistance.​​​​

​