Connect
To Top

Meet Ashleigh Sorenson-Ramirez of Psyche & Soma Psychotherapy Group in Fullerton

Avatar photo

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashleigh Sorenson-Ramirez.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Ashleigh. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
As a recent graduate with my Bachelor’s degree, I landed a job working as a care staff member at a group home with abused and neglected kids who had been removed from their homes. This job was a wake up call for me and where I found my passion and purpose. I worked there as a staff member, supervisor, and intake coordinator for five years. I learned over time about the impact that trauma and relationships can have on a person’s psyche. During this time, I began graduate school to earn my Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis on Marriage and Family Therapy.

During these three years, I was continually faced with my own past and trauma as I learned how to help others work through their anxiety, depression, and trauma. Thankfully, this was also the time I entered into my own psychotherapy process. There, I experienced how powerful an empathic witness, a non-judgmental heart, and a healing guide can be. I was also introduced to the juicy stuff – my Shadow – parts of me that were underdeveloped, undervalued, disowned, and rejected.

After graduating from graduate school, I was offered a school therapist position at a high school working with teens and young adults facing various struggles – anxiety, depression, identity formation, sexuality, gang life, running away from home, conflict within the family, failing grades, concentration, self-harm, and harming others. While my clients themselves were a various bunch, the common thread that tied most of them together was trauma of one form or another. Again, it was re-emphasized for me what an impact relationships and trauma have on a human being. I got to see what abuse and neglect can do to a person and I got to experience how trust, concern, multidisciplinary care, and real human-ness can also leave an imprint on a person and their transformation.

In this time, I also joined a private group psychotherapy practice. While the setting was different than other therapy settings I had worked in, trauma symptoms still showed up in the therapy room. I found myself being drawn to working a private practice setting because it offered me some things that I didn’t receive in other places, such as a slower-paced and quieter environment (I’m a true introvert and highly sensitive person), the freedom to not be bombarded with paperwork, an aesthetically-pleasing workspace, and the privilege to work with folks that I was actually really good at working with – adult survivors of childhood trauma.

In 2016, my entrepreneurial self woke up and I decided to start my own solo private practice in North Orange County, all while maintaining a full-time job at the high school and still part-time practice at the group practice in South Orange County. My visions for my future became more clear and I became more serious about growing my practice, becoming more business-minded, and setting tangible goals for myself. I craved the flexibility private practice could offer, the choice to work with clients that I can best support, having my own space that I love being in to do that, and having a practice that didn’t leave me drained and burned out at the end of the day.

In 2017, I knew it was time to say goodbye to my secure, full-time job as a school therapist. Saying goodbye to my clients, my coworkers, and clinical team was one of the most difficult things I’ve ever done. In my gut, I knew it was time to let go and do what was best for me, even if it was the most frightening and exciting thing ever!

As my practice grew over the year, and with the support of my husband, I decided to hire my first clinician with the dream of starting a private group practice! Since entering the therapy world and having mostly wonderful experiences with my clinical supervisors, I knew that one day I’d like to become a supervisor as well. Again, it was reinforced to me how transformative relationship can be in a person’s healing and growth. I wanted to support newer therapists in their journey.

Since hiring my first pre-licensed therapist, Jamie Weir, AMFT, in 2018, I’ve been pretty lucky to witness her growth as a therapist and supporting her as she works with her own clients. In July of this year (2019), I signed a lease on my very own office suite, opened my group practice, and now work with three pre-licensed therapists who all bring their unique gifts to our practice. Jamie is getting closer to taking her state license exam and our newer therapists, Rikk Cavin, AMFT and Christina Gherman, AMFT, have been an amazing addition to the team! They are both compassionate, down-to-earth, real human beings who are passionate and excited to support their clients. I am so grateful for my team at Psyche & Soma and for my support system outside of my business!

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
No path to growth is ever smooth, in my opinion, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. One of the biggest struggles I had initially was taking that leap of faith that I could own my own business, be my own boss, and that people would find value in the therapy services I have to offer. Saying goodbye to what was familiar, secure, and known was scary and necessary. The quote, “if it’s both terrifying and exciting, you should definitely do it” resonated so much for me when I took that first leap.

My overall personality does not tend to be business-minded, so learning about taxes, business formation, signing a lease, charging appropriately for my time and expertise, marketing my practice, and networking have all been challenges I face as a business owner. It’s also been exciting to observe myself taking on more of a leadership role, to sometimes get excited about numbers and finances, and watch myself grow in ways I never thought I could.

Riding the waves of busy and slow seasons in my practice has also been a challenge, as it is for most therapists. In this process, I’ve also learned about my own cycles and my needs for self-care with changing seasons.

There are many challenges that come each day in running a new business and it helps me get better at tolerating the unknown and taking charge where and when I can.

Psyche & Soma Psychotherapy Group – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
My private group practice, Psyche & Soma Psychotherapy Group, is located in beautiful Downtown Fullerton! We are a team of four psychotherapists who support millennials, adults, teens, and partners struggling with anxiety, depression, trauma, life transitions, relationships, and identity formation. We provide trauma-informed care and are affirming of folks in the LGBTQIA+ communities. We believe that symptoms are messengers from our Psyche and body that want to help us heal. We see our clients as whole, valuable people with agency, autonomy, and resiliency, even if they don’t see those things yet.

I specialize in working with young adult survivors of childhood trauma (mostly emotional abuse, emotional neglect, and physical abuse). I help adults learn to re-parent themselves and care for themselves in ways they needed when they were younger. Aside from traditional talk therapy, I also utilize somatic/body-based therapy (Somatic Experiencing) and Sandplay therapy for those who are interested.

Jamie Weir, AMFT specializes in working with young adults and couples and can offer Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. Christina Gherman, AMFT specializes in working with adults and sexual abuse survivors. Rikk Cavin, AMFT specializes in supporting teens and young adults struggling with anxiety, depression, those disconnected from their feelings, and people exploring their identities.

What I’m most proud of as a small business owner is that I’ve created a space where our clients, our therapists, and I feel comfortable, supported, seen, and heard. I appreciate the fact that we see people as whole already and that we can provide the space to help our clients uncover their inner knowing, their true Self, and live lives that are authentic to them.

What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success, for me, has different facets. Creating a work culture where my team feels supported and is given opportunities to grow is a sign of success. Maintaining consistent, trustworthy relationships with our clients is a huge sign of success. To see our clients heal from their pain, to integrate their experiences, and thrive is another important sign of success. Being able to partner with other service providers who offer similar or different services and have each other as resources to support our clients is a sign of success. Being able to give back to our communities is a sign of success. Being able to pay all the bills and pay myself and my employees a liveable income are signs of success. Being able to offer stipends for continuing education to our therapists is a sign of success. Having time to enjoy things outside of work, to do things that restore me, and to have the time to slow down are signs of success. Being known in our therapist and mental health communities as a quality team of clinicians who are trauma-informed, inclusive and affirming, and authentic is a sign of success. My definitions of success may change over time as my business, my team, and I grow, but I feel like these are what is important right now.

Pricing:

  • Individual psychotherapy and Somatic Experiencing with Ashleigh Sorenson, LMFT: $150 per 50-minute session
  • Individual and couples therapy with Jamie Weir, AMFT: $130 per 50-minute session
  • Individual and family therapy with Rikk Cavin, AMFT: $150 per 50-minute session
  • Individual and couples therapy with Christina Gherman, AMFT: $140 per 50-minute session

Contact Info:

Suggest a story: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.

Related Items

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

More in