Ashleigh Sorenson, LMFT

Hey, moms + stepmoms of teens ages 14-18! Are you feeling lost, burned out, or a little chaotic during these teenage years? If so, we've got a place for you to ...be supported, refill your cup, and make sense of what the heck is going on emotionally and physiologically for your teen. This group is likely a good fit for you if: -you're a mom or stepmom of a 14-18 year old -you are looking to make time for your own self care -you want to be part of a group of moms who GET IT. -you love your kid a whole lot and find there are unique challenges right now -you want the convenience of meeting virtually with an intimate group of other moms, once a week, for 8 weeks. Amanda Cline, AMFT has created this group because she sees how hard moms of teens have it. It's a LOT of work. She sees how these years, for both parents and teens, are opportunities for growth but they also come with a ton of stress and conflict. Contact Amanda today to get started! www.amandacline.care [email protected] or 619.363.2502

The second part of our group practice name (Soma) is another term for the physical body. As trauma-informed clinicians, we believe it’s important to also incorp...orate the Body’s wisdom into treatment. Our mind’s know a lot, our unconscious is rich with information, and our bodies also store a lot of helpful cues and clues. For trauma survivors, and anyone living in a highly stressful environment (hello, America 2020!), survival energy can become stored in the physical body and make an impact on all systems within the body. If that survival energy has nowhere to move through and out, it becomes trapped and we begin feeling things like muscle tension, digestive issues, headaches, tightening in the chest, changes in appetite, immobility, excessive mobility, and so on. Body-based approaches to healing can help people be more present with their current sensations, feelings, and experiences without having to go all the way back and process old trauma. The body knows enough. Just like Psyche, the body is also so resilient and adaptive and built for balance, healing, pleasure, and fullness. #traumatherapist #traumarecovery #fullertontherapist #brea #anaheim #fullerton #yorbalinda #placentia #whittier #orange #psychology #depthpsychology #counseling #healing #therapyisforeveryone #mentalhealth #reparenting #innerchild #innerchildwork #shadowwork #somaticexperiencing #psycheandsomatherapy #anxiety #depression #posttraumaticstress #ptsd #mindfulness #selfcare #ocshrinks

Hey there, helper! Join @the_trauma_informed_therapist and The Trauma- Informed Collective as we embark on the adventure of helping more therapists become confi...dent in their work with complex trauma and human complexity! If you’re interested in an on-GROWING library of learning resources, a community of therapists wanting to help transform the pain of the world, and a 6-month consultation cohort to deepen your understanding of complex trauma from somatic, depth- oriented, and attachment lenses, check out the link in our bio to sign up for more info! #traumatherapist #traumarecovery #fullertontherapist #brea #anaheim #fullerton #yorbalinda #placentia #whittier #orange #psychology #depthpsychology #counseling #healing #therapyisforeveryone #mentalhealth #reparenting #innerchild #innerchildwork #shadowwork #somaticexperiencing #psycheandsomatherapy #anxiety #depression #posttraumaticstress #ptsd #mindfulness #selfcare #ocshrinks

Hey there, helper! Are you wishing you had some extra support around trauma work? Are you feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or completely lost when it comes to worki...ng with complex trauma? Do you want to support your wonderful clients to the very best of your ability? Then join us over at The Trauma-Informed Therapist Collective! A community of therapists who want to dive deeper in their understanding of trauma and human complexity. If you’re interested in depth-oriented, attachment-focused, and somatic/body-based approaches to treatment, join us! Sign up for our interest list today to stay in the loop for when doors open (link in bio)! The world needs you. https://witty-creator-2009.ck.page/bf35a90ed0

If you’ve had a difficult or traumatic past, here’s a tip: validate your uncomfortable feelings. Make room for them. Allow them to be there. Notice what’s happe...ning in your body (if it feels okay to do so). Also, remind yourself that while the unpleasant feelings and sensations are there, the past painful events have passed (this part is super important!) This helps incorporate and build the body’s awareness, your feelings, as well as your prefrontal and neocortex parts of the brain (areas responsible for language, reasoning, problem-solving, perception, and consciousness). #traumatherapist #traumarecovery #fullertontherapist #brea #anaheim #fullerton #yorbalinda #placentia #whittier #orange #psychology #depthpsychology #counseling #healing #therapyisforeveryone #mentalhealth #reparenting #innerchild #innerchildwork #shadowwork #somaticexperiencing #psycheandsomatherapy #anxiety #depression #posttraumaticstress #ptsd #mindfulness #selfcare #ocshrinks

Carl Jung said, In all chaos there is a cosmos, in all disorder a secret order. Our healing processes can often feel chaotic, unstable, and disorienting for a... while. And this is necessary. In therapy and other healing practices, we are disrupting old patterns, ways of being, and experiences of ourselves, the world, and others. This is necessary for change. As in chaos theory, underlying the chaos of complex systems, there is an underlying pattern, rhythm, and self-organizing system that is actually being used to create a new kind of order within the Self. Trusting this process and knowing it won’t feel chaotic forever, can be helpful in growing, unlearning, and re-membering. #traumatherapist #traumarecovery #fullertontherapist #brea #anaheim #fullerton #yorbalinda #placentia #whittier #orange #psychology #depthpsychology #counseling #healing #therapyisforeveryone #mentalhealth #reparenting #innerchild #innerchildwork #shadowwork #somaticexperiencing #psycheandsomatherapy #anxiety #depression #posttraumaticstress #ptsd #mindfulness #selfcare #ocshrinks

Did you know? As infants, young kids, older kids, and teens, we relied on our caregivers to provide emotional and physical safety, connection, and comfort to he...lp us feel secure within ourselves and in our world. We still need these things well into adulthood and we can offer them to ourselves and receive them from trusted others. The way we go about getting our needs met may be problematic at times (overspending to soothe, binging to cope, lashing out at a loved one to release pent up anger, saying yes to everyone and everything to avoid conflict). The need for safety, connection, and comfort are very normal necessities for all animals (humans and non-humans alike!) #traumatherapist #traumarecovery #fullertontherapist #brea #anaheim #fullerton #yorbalinda #placentia #whittier #orange #psychology #depthpsychology #counseling #healing #therapyisforeveryone #mentalhealth #reparenting #innerchild #innerchildwork #shadowwork #somaticexperiencing #psycheandsomatherapy #anxiety #depression #posttraumaticstress #ptsd #mindfulness #selfcare #ocshrinks

Why this works: when we become highly activated, stressed, overwhelmed, or burned out, being on the ground is, well...GROUNDING. When our anxiety is through th...e roof, it can be calming to get closer to the floor. Being close to a stable foundation and allowing your body to be supported by the earth or the floor can help soothe a rattled nervous system. If you’re disabled or unable to get onto the ground, you can modify by placing your back against a wall or planting your feet into the ground. Try it out and let us know what happens! #traumatherapist #traumarecovery #fullertontherapist #brea #anaheim #fullerton #yorbalinda #placentia #whittier #orange #psychology #depthpsychology #counseling #healing #therapyisforeveryone #mentalhealth #reparenting #innerchild #innerchildwork #shadowwork #somaticexperiencing #psycheandsomatherapy #anxiety #depression #posttraumaticstress #ptsd #mindfulness #selfcare #ocshrinks

When folks first reach out for therapy, they are usually pretty aware of the current symptoms they’ve been struggling with. They are often in crisis or feeling ...overwhelmed by the current situation. The beginning stages of therapy are about building trust with our clients, helping them regulate, feel a sense of inner and outer safety, and providing some coping skills for the current symptoms. As clients start to feel more stable and symptoms begin to reduce or change, sometimes they think, I feel better now. It’s time to stop. From a depth psychology point of view, this is the time to roll up our sleeves and go a little deeper. Symptoms, a few feelings, thoughts, daily functioning all live on the surface AND there’s much more to a person’s psyche than that! Our inner lives have so much to offer, including dreams, imagination, Shadow, our inner child, soul, our deepest wounds, and our purpose. These can be dark, muddy, anxiety-producing waters to head in to and that’s why it’s important to do this work with someone who’s been there before (and hopefully continues to go there), who can make space for your psyche and nervous system to do their things, and help you travel back to the surface when it’s time. This is longer term work, not just a Band-Aid to be slapped on. This is where transformation, integration, and wholeness occur and where we begin to live lives that are aligned, authentic, and meaningful to our true Self. #traumatherapist #traumarecovery #fullertontherapist #brea #anaheim #fullerton #yorbalinda #placentia #whittier #orange #psychology #depthpsychology #counseling #healing #therapyisforeveryone #mentalhealth #reparenting #innerchild #innerchildwork #shadowwork #somaticexperiencing #psycheandsomatherapy #anxiety #depression #posttraumaticstress #ptsd #mindfulness #selfcare #ocshrinks

People usually start therapy because they want support in managing symptoms. Who wouldn’t want to feel better?! Reducing symptoms is just a part of therapy, tho...ugh. Sometimes clients expect for the symptoms to just go away, which is usually aligned with how they’ve been really trying to cope with their pain; repressing, denying, ignoring. We actually find that when we can learn to manage and tolerate our unpleasant feelings and be curious about why they keep trying to get our attention through symptoms, then we can make room for more pleasant emotions and experiences as well. Life isn’t all good and it’s not all bad. It offers both and that’s what makes it rich, complex, and multi-layered. The big work is in making room for it all. #traumatherapist #traumarecovery #fullertontherapist #brea #anaheim #fullerton #yorbalinda #placentia #whittier #orange #psychology #depthpsychology #counseling #healing #therapyisforeveryone #mentalhealth #reparenting #innerchild #innerchildwork #shadowwork #somaticexperiencing #psycheandsomatherapy #anxiety #depression #posttraumaticstress #ptsd #mindfulness #selfcare #ocshrinks

We don’t have to explore every inch of those billion miles, but even one inch of exploration will create a shift in the rest of the system. If you’re looking f...or support in navigating your inner world and nervous system, let’s talk! Reach out to our Clinical Coordinator, @rikkcavinamft, email us at [email protected], or give us a call! 657.201.9030 #traumatherapist #traumarecovery #fullertontherapist #brea #anaheim #fullerton #yorbalinda #placentia #whittier #orange #psychology #depthpsychology #counseling #healing #therapyisforeveryone #mentalhealth #reparenting #innerchild #innerchildwork #shadowwork #somaticexperiencing #psycheandsomatherapy #anxiety #depression #posttraumaticstress #ptsd #mindfulness #selfcare #ocshrinks

We humans are pretty strange, complex, and amazing creatures. Our brains sometimes get in the way of us remembering our connection to the rest of the natural w...orld. We have the ability and skill to create technology, buildings, and systems, and while that comes with lots of benefits, a big drawback is that we get disconnected from the natural world, our bodies, and our soul. Our anxiety increases when changes, endings, beginnings, and shifts begin to happen. Our natural rhythms get interrupted by modern day conveniences, stressors, and demands. We feel unprepared, unsettled, and dysregulated because we forget that endings and beginnings, too, are part of nature. We invite you to take a few minutes today to slow down a bit, feel your bare feet on the grass or warm ground, listen for animal noises in your environment, or allow your eyes to take in life blooming around you. #traumatherapist #traumarecovery #fullertontherapist #brea #anaheim #fullerton #yorbalinda #placentia #whittier #orange #psychology #depthpsychology #counseling #healing #therapyisforeveryone #mentalhealth #reparenting #innerchild #innerchildwork #shadowwork #somaticexperiencing #psycheandsomatherapy #anxiety #depression #posttraumaticstress #ptsd #mindfulness #selfcare #ocshrinks

Therapists, bodyworkers, physicians, activists, places of faith, people in power, bosses, managers, teachers, social workers, friends, and family members: how a...re you practicing trauma-aware care for your loved ones, for people you relate with every day, and for yourself? #traumatherapist #traumarecovery #fullertontherapist #brea #anaheim #fullerton #yorbalinda #placentia #whittier #orange #psychology #depthpsychology #counseling #healing #therapyisforeveryone #mentalhealth #reparenting #innerchild #innerchildwork #shadowwork #somaticexperiencing #psycheandsomatherapy #anxiety #depression #posttraumaticstress #ptsd #mindfulness #selfcare #ocshrinks @ Fullerton, California

James Hillman, in his chapter, The Seduction of Black (from Fire in the Stone: The Alchemy of Desire), beautifully describes how afraid we become, both psycholo...gically and socially, of Black and of the dark. If you cringe when you hear people say or see sayings like good vibes only or love and light, this chapter may resonate for you. If you require a positive spin on e v e r y t h i n g, this chapter may be an opportunity for reflection. If you’re part of a culture or society that has a history of racism towards Black people and people of color, this chapter may better help you understand how our psychological denial, projections, and fear of shadow/black/dark contribute to our communities’ racist histories at large. #traumatherapist #traumarecovery #fullertontherapist #brea #anaheim #fullerton #yorbalinda #placentia #whittier #orange #psychology #depthpsychology #counseling #healing #therapyisforeveryone #mentalhealth #reparenting #innerchild #innerchildwork #shadowwork #somaticexperiencing #psycheandsomatherapy #anxiety #depression #posttraumaticstress #ptsd #mindfulness #selfcare #ocshrinks

From Romancing the Shadow by Connie Zweig and Steve Wolf There are many aspects of the authentic Self that are unacceptable to the ego ideal. Like old fami...ly heirlooms, they are stuffed into a trunk in the cellar. The trunk is like the personal ‘shadow’, a container that holds the dusty old heirlooms or lost and neglected shadow contents. The personal shadow is that portion of the whole unconscious that is closest to consciousness. It is shaped by a confluence of forces: the collective or cultural shadow, which forms the sea of moral and social values in which we swim; the family shadow, which forms the vessel in which we grow; and the parents’ shadows, which form a legacy of abuse and betrayal. Through understanding and curiosity, we can develop a different, more conscious relationship to our Shadow. It is a necessary aspect for all change - personal and collective. We must be brave enough to explore what is authentic to Soul and scary for the ego. #traumatherapist #traumarecovery #fullertontherapist #brea #anaheim #fullerton #yorbalinda #placentia #whittier #orange #psychology #depthpsychology #counseling #healing #therapyisforeveryone #mentalhealth #reparenting #innerchild #innerchildwork #shadowwork #somaticexperiencing #psycheandsomatherapy #anxiety #depression #posttraumaticstress #ptsd #mindfulness #selfcare #ocshrinks