Conversations with Ashley Reyes

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Reyes.

Hi Ashley, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I come from California’s Central Valley, where the seeds of my calling were planted early in life. As a child navigating family dysfunction and surviving childhood abuse, I developed a deep curiosity about human behavior and an unwavering desire to help others feel seen, safe, and heard. That desire never left me-it became my life’s mission.

I pursued my undergraduate degree in Psychology at CSU Monterey Bay, then went on to earn my Master’s in Social Work from the University of Southern California in 2018. Since then, I’ve made Los Angeles my home, where I’ve had the privilege of serving diverse and marginalized communities in South Central and Downtown LA. I’ve also worked in the private practice sector, supporting clients from all over California.

My professional path has always been deeply personal. From the beginning, I knew that healing wasn’t just about talk-it was about transformation. As I sat with clients and held space for their stories, I witnessed how trauma lives in the body, not just the mind. This insight led me to expand my work into the realm of energy healing.

Integrating energy work into my practice has allowed me to help people release what words alone couldn’t touch-stagnant emotions, generational pain, and unprocessed trauma. I’ve seen clients walk away feeling lighter, freer, more grounded, and more whole.

Today, I hold sacred space for others with the same compassion and care I once needed myself. My mission is to help others re-establish safety within, reclaim their voice, and break free from generational cycles. The time is now to step into your most authentic, healed self & I’m here to guide people through that journey.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I grew up fast. As the eldest daughter in a Latino household, I didn’t have the luxury of simply being a child. I was parentified early-stepping into roles that weren’t mine to carry, mediating conflicts, soothing egos, raising siblings, and often raising myself. The line between responsibility and survival blurred before I even understood what boundaries were.

My mother’s narcissism made love conditional. I was praised when I performed, dismissed when I expressed needs, and criticized when I dared to question. Her approval was a moving target and I learned to measure my worth by how much I could give, not by who I was. Silence became safety. Achievement became my armor.

My father, an immigrant, carried his own invisible burdens – internalized pressure and unhealed wounds from leaving behind his roots to chase something better for us. I watched him try to belong in systems that were never built for him. And somehow, I was expected to make it all make sense & had to try to make room for myself in this world.

And still, there was no roadmap. No one told me how to navigate generational trauma, cultural expectation, gender roles, and economic pressure -let alone build a life that was mine.

So I became my own guide.

It wasn’t graceful. It was messy, lonely, and full of self-doubt. Imposter syndrome was my bestie many times throughout this journey. But each time I chose myself -in therapy rooms, in quiet journals, & in late-night visions of something more. I began to untangle the voices in my head from the voice in my soul.

I pursued a career, despite the guilt. I am building a business, despite the fear. I redefined success on my own terms, not through the lens of someone else’s expectations. I realized I didn’t have to betray my culture to heal-I could honor it and still choose differently. Shout out to my ancestors.

Trusting myself didn’t come easy. I had to unlearn survival to learn how to live. I had to stop seeking permission. I had to believe that I was not here to carry everyone-that I, too, deserve to take up space.

Now, as a Latina woman building something of her own, I carry my story not as a weight, but as a foundation. I’m not just healing for myself- I’m healing forward. I’m building a life where I am the authority. Where the girl who was told to be quiet now leads.

And every step I take is a reminder:
I was always capable. I just needed to be free enough to remember. If I can persevere, you can too. Don’t ever give up on yourself.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) who specializes in working with individuals navigating trauma, depression, anxiety, PTSD, stress, relationship challenges, and capitalism fatigue – yes, that’s real, and we talk about it here.

As a Latina therapist, I may look like you, share similar roots, and understand the unspoken pressures that come with carrying generational expectations, code-switching, and surviving systems that weren’t made for us. My approach is compassionate, inclusive, person-centered, and always grounded in a deep respect for your lived experience and cultural context.

I’m here to help you break free from generational trauma and reclaim your voice, your boundaries, and your sense of self-even if you were never taught how.
What sets me apart? I show up as my full, authentic self in therapy. That might mean cussing when it’s real, challenging you when you’re stuck, or being fully human right alongside you. This isn’t about being a blank slate. This is about building real, honest, healing relationships- the kind that actually help you grow.

Therapy with me isn’t one-size-fits-all. It’s a space where you’re seen, affirmed, and supported to rewrite your narrative- on your own terms!

Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Finding a mentor isn’t about waiting for the perfect person- it’s about being intentional and putting yourself in spaces where growth can happen.

Start by cultivating connections in your workplace: ask questions, show curiosity, and let people know what you’re passionate about. Small conversations can lead to meaningful relationships.

But don’t stop there. Get out of your comfort zone. Show up to community events, join groups, attend workshops-even reach out to people online whose work resonates with you. Mentorship often starts with one brave message or one real conversation.

It’s not about being the most polished- it’s about being present, open, and willing to connect.

Mentorship is built through real relationships- not titles.

Pricing:

• $200 -Initial Assessment (free consultations)
• $150- 45 mind individual therapy session
• $75-Reiki Session
• $25-Tarot Reading
• $200+-Soundbath Workshops

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @millennial_therapyaf
• TikTok: @millennial_therapyaf

Image Credits
Collective29studios