Ashlei Lien & Associates
A relational, culturally responsive therapy practice grounded in empathy, honesty, and real human connection.
Guiding you on your path of Self-Healing
Life can be tough, and sometimes you might feel like you're swimming against the tide, dealing with anxiety, trauma, relationship challenges, or the complexities of cultural identity.
Maybe you’re trying to navigate the unique challenges of your race or gender, or sexuality.
Maybe you're struggling to feel accepted in your community.
Maybe you’re a new parent, overwhelmed by the changes and emotions that come with it.
Whatever you’re facing, you don’t have to go through it alone. Our practice exists to offer support, understanding, and a place to land while you do this work.
Meet Our Founder
Welcome! I’m Ashlei, founder of Ashlei Lien & Associates, and I’m so glad you’re here.
I’m a dedicated and passionate marriage and family therapist who believes deeply in walking alongside people with empathy, honesty, and care.
Growing up as a biracial woman with a Mexican immigrant mother and a white father, I learned early what it feels like to navigate two worlds and search for belonging.
Add to that the complexities of being bisexual in a religious household, and I get it – life can be a real mix of challenges. My lived experiences shape the practice I’ve built, one grounded in empathy, understanding, and real connection.
Our Approach
Our work is grounded in a psychodynamic, relational, and attachment-centered foundation. We’re interested in the deeper patterns behind what you’re feeling and how your early experiences, relationships, and environments shape the ways you cope, connect, and protect yourself now.
We naturally weave in practical tools from approaches like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Trauma-Focused Therapy when they’re useful, and for couples and relationship work, Ashlei is Gottman-trained and draws from that framework to support communication, repair, and trust-building.
More than any specific modality, what matters most to us is how we show up.
Clients often tell us they feel seen, heard, and understood. We value authenticity, consistency, & being real with you, and we promise to be a stable, consistent force in your life as you work through your challenges.
The heart of our work is our relationship with you, grounded in warmth and honesty.
What can you expect in a session?
We believe therapy doesn’t have to be stiff or clinical to be effective.
There may be laughter. There may be strong language. There will be space for the messy, complicated, real parts of you.
Whether you’re working with Ashlei or one of our associates, you can expect a therapist who is present, engaged, and willing to walk alongside you through whatever you’re carrying.
Inclusive Therapists
LGBTQ+ Affirming
Diverse Therapists
Mental Health Services
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In one-on-one sessions, you’ll tackle issues like anxiety, trauma, and personal growth.
You’ll work to identify what you need and how to achieve it.
Whether you’re struggling with cultural identity, past traumas, or just feeling overwhelmed, we’re here to help.
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Relationships are complex, especially if they’re intercultural, interracial, or non-traditional.
We specialize in helping people in romantic relationships (including polyamorous and non-monogamous) navigate these dynamics.
Using the Gottman Method and attachment theory, you’ll find ways to communicate better, heal old wounds, and rebuild your bond.
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There’s power in knowing you’re not alone.
Group therapy provides a safe space to share your experiences and grow with others who are going through similar struggles.
Together, we’ll build a supportive community where everyone feels heard and understood.
Anxiety
Anxiety can be debilitating, but it doesn’t have to control your life. We’ll help you develop strategies to manage your anxiety and reclaim a sense of peace and functionality. We use CBT strategies to calm anxiousness and then apply attachment theory to help heal the wounds that were put there in our early childhood history.
Therapy Specialties
Depression
Depression can feel isolating, heavy, and hard to put into words. Together, we’ll make space to understand what your depression is communicating — not just reduce symptoms, but explore the emotional, relational, and historical factors connected to it. Our work focuses on rebuilding connection to yourself, your relationships, and your sense of meaning.
Trauma
Whether you’ve experienced sexual abuse, childhood trauma, or racism and race-related distress, we’re here to help you navigate your healing process. Using a psychodynamic/relational lens, we’ll work to address your past and find ways to reclaim your life that feel attuned to your cultural identity and to who you are as an individual.
Pregancy, Postpartum, & Parenting
Parenting is a journey filled with both joy and challenges. We support new and expectant parents in understanding and managing the emotional rollercoaster that often accompanies this new role. We’ll work on regulating emotions and finding balance in the good and the bad.
Intimate Relationships
We help people in romantic relationships navigate their unique interpersonal dynamics. Taking a closer look at your attachment history and utilizing some skills from the Gottman Method, we’ll work on communication, healing, and building a deeper, more trusting bond.
Athletes & Former Athletes
We work with athletes and former athletes who are navigating performance pressure, injury, burnout, identity shifts, or life beyond sport. Therapy offers a space to process how you relate to your body, your worth, & your emotions, reconnect with yourself, and build a more sustainable and compassionate relationship with achievement, rest, and identity.
About Our Associates
Ashlei Lien & Associates is expanding to include carefully selected associate therapists who share a commitment to culturally responsive, affirming, and trauma-informed care.
Each associate brings their own training, lived experience, and areas of specialty, all while working under the guidance and values that define this practice. This allows us to support a wider range of clients while maintaining the warmth, integrity, and quality of care you deserve.
We’ll support you in finding the therapist who feels like the right fit for you, and you’ll always have clarity about who you’re working with.
Ready to Start Your Journey?
You don’t have to face life’s challenges alone. If you’re ready to dive in and do the work, we’re here to help.
Let’s figure out what you need and how to get there, together.
Take the First Step
Finding the right therapist matters. Whether you’re drawn to working with Ashlei or one of our associate therapists, we’ll help guide you to someone who aligns with your needs, identity, and goals.
Not sure where to start?
Reach out today to schedule a consultation. Whether you’re dealing with anxiety, trauma, relationship issues, or other complexities of life, we’re here to walk with you every step of the way.
