Ariel Stokes

Hi! I'm Ariel, a Licensed Professional Counselor with over 8 years of experience. My professional career has centered around supporting individuals with a variety of issues bringing them to therapy. Many of the challenges that bring people to therapy show up most clearly in their relationships. Whether you’re dating, building new friendships, navigating a long-term partnership, healing after a breakup, or adjusting to life as a new mom, relational stress can deeply impact your mental health. You might find yourself overthinking texts, fearing rejection, pulling away when things get close, choosing emotionally unavailable partners, or struggling to maintain meaningful friendships. As a new mom, you might notice shifts in your identity, changes in intimacy, resentment around the mental load, or feeling unseen and unsupported. These patterns can feel frustrating, confusing, and lonely.

My approach to counseling is collaborative and attachment focused. Attachment-focused therapy helps you understand why relational patterns exist. The ways we learned to connect early in life often shape how we approach closeness, conflict, vulnerability, and life transitions. When attachment feels insecure, dating can feel anxiety-provoking, friendships can feel one-sided, and partnerships can feel unstable or overwhelming. Over time, this can contribute to anxiety, depression, self-doubt, and emotional burnout.

My hope is that after our first session, you leave feeling like you have found a safe space to explore your life’s current challenges. In our work together, we’ll explore your relational patterns with curiosity and compassion — not judgment. We’ll strengthen your ability to communicate needs, tolerate vulnerability, set boundaries, and choose relationships that feel reciprocal and secure. As your attachment becomes more secure, many clients notice they feel calmer in dating, more confident in friendships, and more connected in partnerships.

If you’re wanting healthier, more fulfilling relationships — and a stronger sense of security within yourself — I’m here to help you build that foundation.