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Meet Marilyn Ashley

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

Marilyn, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I have tried to live my life with the essence of each mantra below, in mind and heart. I started this career later in life because there were SO MANY other things I wanted to do first…places I wanted to see, other jobs to perform, people to meet, cultures to learn about, experiences to be had. All of these experiences led me to what I consider my sweet spot, my flow…work that I can do in service of others and for myself.

Two of my favorite quotes:

“You’ve gotta dance like there’s nobody watching,
Love like you’ll never be hurt,
Sing like there’s nobody listening,
And live like it’s heaven on earth.”
– William W. Purkey

and

“…It doesn’t interest me
how old you are.
I want to know
if you will risk
looking like a fool
for love
for your dream
for the adventure of being alive.

It doesn’t interest me
what planets are
squaring your moon…
I want to know
if you have touched
the centre of your own sorrow
if you have been opened
by life’s betrayals
or have become shriveled and closed
from fear of further pain.

I want to know
if you can sit with pain
mine or your own
without moving to hide it
or fade it
or fix it…”
– Oriah Mountain Dreamer, Poet/Storyteller

Has it been a smooth road?
Oh my goodness…it definitely has not! I’ve experienced my fair share of peaks and valleys and truly, I wouldn’t trade a single one of them.

Each of those challenges, hiccups or downright sad or scary times have made me who I am today. All the joys and heartbreaks have added to my story, enriched my personality, shifted my awareness and helped me grow and evolve.

I’ve learned to stand at the top of the peak, arms outstretched, soaking it all in because I know that all too soon, I’ll be in a valley and the light will seem covered by the darkness. So it goes…a road traveled and a life well-lived.

I’ve had the most amazing support systems. There are many people who helped me up when I was down. Many situations that seemingly broke my heart into pieces and the guidance and support from others learning how to mend them in a way that was even stronger than before. It is my hope that I can be of this same support to others in need.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
My private practice therapy business is located in the heart of the South Bay, in Hermosa Beach, CA.

Relationships, relationships, relationships! Whether your relationship with yourself, your partner, friends or colleagues. I offer individual and couples therapy.

I also offer coaching services for those who may need additional support, just not quite therapy. Coaching can be used to help you in a particular area of your life. Maybe you are having difficulty making a decision? Or there is something holding you back from accomplishing your goals? Maybe you are looking for help leading a healthier, more balanced life? Perhaps you want guidance during a transitional period or with particular relationships? I offer wellness, transitions and relationship coaching services.

I practice through a holistic lens and a mindful perspective, often teaching clients some of the very same techniques that I myself practice regularly to cope with the complex challenges life often brings. I hold the belief that as my client, you are the expert of your life, and I am here to help you identify your own personal strengths, and utilizing those strengths, together we develop goals and I support you on your journey to achieve them.

My style of therapy is direct, interactive and collaborative. Together we will look at where you currently are and uncover where you want to be. I may challenge you to look at behaviors from the past and offer you different perspectives. I will encourage you to take the steps necessary to move you into the future you want and need. I utilize my personal, life-long story, education and experience, my clinical training and tools I’ve picked up along the way to tailor-make your sessions just for you.

I do a lot of work with clients cultivating mindfulness, self-compassion, meditation, anxiety and stress management, emotion regulation, communication tools and I also have specialized training and experience with First Responders. My husband is a career firefighter and I learned first hand the toll the job can have on them… with shift work, being away from family for extended durations, missing important celebrations and all the traumatic things they are exposed to and see on a daily. They have seen it all and are regularly exposed to things that many could not or wouldn’t want to imagine. I consider it an honor to offer support to them in their time of need, just as they have done for so many.

Is our city a good place to do what you do?
I’ve been so fortunate to have opened and built my business here and have made some invaluable connections with colleagues. I have always felt welcomed and well supported. When a client isn’t a match for me, I absolutely love referring to one of these colleagues. “Successful people build each other up. They motivate, inspire, and push each other.”

Hermosa Beach is relatively small, comparatively speaking. One of the things that drew me here was the beach town feeling. It can have that small-town feel and at the same time, have access to so, so much! Being nestled between some of the larger communities, such as Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, El Segundo and Torrance definitely lends to good, authentic people, yummy foods, many activities to choose from and of course…the beach!

There is no shortage of therapists in our area, however, we each bring to the table a different training, perspective and ultimately style. I wholeheartedly feel that the fit between you and your therapist is paramount for successful change and growth. I encourage potential clients to always talk to a handful of us, ask your questions, get a feel for us and our styles…you’ll know when you’ve landed at the right doorstep…then from there reach out and knock.

Pricing:

  • 60 minute sessions $200
  • 90 minute sessions $300

Contact Info:

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