Psychotherapist MPF
I studied Couple & Family Therapy at Seattle University and got my master's degree from there in 2021. That year I also passed the National Licensing Exam for Marriage & Family Therapists and became licensed in Washington State. I no longer hold my state license as I am no longer a resident, and as of 2022 I am instead a registered Psychotherapist with the Danish Psychotherapy Union (Dansk Psykoterapeut Forening).
Although my training included extensive work with couples and families, my internship experience focused on and drew me toward individual therapy and helped me find my niche in treating anxiety and related disorders.
I am passionate about treating OCD and specific phobias with Exposure and Response Prevention therapy, which is a subtype of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.
I also love working with couples and find a lot of meaning in relational work. I am most interested in using the Gottman method to treat couples.
My approach is collaborative, existential, and down-to-earth. I believe therapy should feel like a real conversation but also a place where you feel like you're getting invaluable tools for improving your life. Together, we’ll look at the patterns and stories shaping your life and explore what needs attention, healing, or release.
Outside of my work as a psychotherapist, I enjoy spending time with my family, and my hobbies and interests include film, television, books, music, and gaming. If it’s an indoorsy activity, I probably enjoy it.
Degrees & Certifications
Bachelor of Arts in Sociology & French (PSU, 2012)
Master of Arts in Couple & Family Therapy (SU, 2021)
EMDR Training (HAP International, 2020)
Fundamentals of Exposure-based Therapy for OCD & Anxiety Disorders (NOCD, 2026)
Ariel's FAQ section
You've got questions. I've got answers.
The foundation of my practice is existential. That means that I view things through the lens of existence--how the fear of death informs our motivations and fears, and how we find and claim agency and take responsibility for finding meaning in our lives. For interventions and treatment, I mainly use a cognitive-behavioural approach, which means I look at symptoms and treatments through the lens of how your thoughts influence your behaviours and vice versa.
I use cognitive behavioural therapy, exposure & response prevention, and eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing. For couples I use emotion-focused therapy and the Gottman method.
People who are motivated to make change, and people who struggle with anxiety, OCD, and/or phobias.
I’m not the right fit for crisis care, urgent psychiatric needs, or situations where someone is looking only for reassurance, advice, or quick fixes without deeper work.
Clients describe me as direct, calm and engaged. I'm active, directive, and curious.
Yes, in fact I almost exclusively work with internationals.
