“Not all who wander are lost”
Hi, I’m Ariana.
I have been a licensed clinical therapist for 10 years. On an incredible 3 month, 500 mile hiking journey through different countries in 2024, I dreamed up the idea to move from Maryland to Colorado to start a therapy practice incorporating nature and movement with talk therapy, believing that the combination could create profoundly positive impacts on overall wellbeing. I am offering walk (or hike) and talk therapy in the Ft. Collins, CO area, where we are able to utilize the healing qualities of the environment and our bodies to increase therapeutic progress on your journey to wellness. That being said, I am also offering virtual therapy if that is more aligned with your current needs.
My Approach
Mind
I have been comprehensively trained by Behavioral Tech. and practicing adherent DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) for 9 years in Maryland. While I will not be offering comprehensive DBT now that I have moved out to Colorado, I believe the tools it provides around mindfulness, tolerating distress, managing emotions, and strengthening interpersonal skills are invaluable for everyone. Learning to hold space for the gray areas and the inevitable contradictions of life — the ‘both, and’ — can reduce suffering and increase our ability to find peace and fulfillment that is aligned with our personal values. I also have training in and utilize many perspectives from ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) and IFS (Internal Family Systems), and sometimes incorporate work with my clients on inner child healing and self-compassion where appropriate. When we can understand the core beliefs and narratives we have carried for so long, and come into gentle contact with the parts of ourselves that developed to protect us from harm, we can reconnect with our truest Self and find freedom.
So what is mindfulness? Mindfulness can certainly mean meditation, but that is only one of the many ways to practice. Being mindful means being present to what is happening inside you and around you in this moment. This is the foundation for our ability to be effective and intentional in creating a life of meaning, and you and I will figure out how to develop these skills in ways that work for you.
Body and Nature
All of the photos you see on this page are pictures taken on my hiking adventures near and far. Being out in nature and moving my body brings me a sense of groundedness and openness, and yet also a strength and energy I do not find anywhere else. There is good reason for this — being in nature has been shown to reduce the stress hormone, cortisol, and to decrease amygdala activity and reduce anxiety. It also releases endorphins, a natural antidepressant. Exposure to natural light drives photobiomodulation, stimulating serotonin synthesis — serotonin is the neurotransmitter that contributes to feelings of well-being and happiness. Another beautiful piece of the puzzle is that being in nature provides a sense of connection to something bigger than ourselves, which therapeutically has the ability to generate a felt sense of gratitude, and take us outside of our immediate suffering.
I never imagined pre-pandemic that therapy could be done so effectively over a computer, and yet I have found that it has. That being said, many people find that walking side by side, moving your body, and sharing the energy of the space around you facilitates a wonderfully healing dynamic. In my practice here in Colorado I am focusing on the latter, however I am still open to conducting virtual therapy as well if that is where your needs lie.
Walking El Camino de Santiago, Spain
Sunset in Jordan trekking to Petra
Highest point on the AV1 in the Dolomites, Italy
Feedback previous clients approved my sharing…
"You challenged me in a kind and gentle way and pushed me to grow beyond what I thought I was capable of. This was life changing for me — I thought I needed a new life/do-over, but those things were in me the whole time. I am forever grateful for the impact you’ve had."
Kristen P.
"I’m not fighting life as much anymore — there is so much beauty in both the good and the bad. You’ve given me the tools to start trusting myself. I have both softened and strengthened. So many of the goals we set at the beginning have been accomplished!"
Brianna C.
"I can’t even say I got my life back, because I never had this — I got my life! I finally know and believe I am going to be ok. You saw my heart in here when I couldn’t see it myself. The ripples in my life and my relationships go out so far."
Cathy M.
Get in Touch!
If you would like to schedule a free 15 minute phone call to see if this might be a good fit before scheduling an intake, I am happy to connect with you. Please send me an email with some days and times that would work for you and we can go from there.
FAQ
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No, we don’t. If you think you and I could be a good fit for your therapy journey and you would rather stick to virtual sessions I am happy to do that. If you ever change your mind we can always lace up our shoes.
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As listed above, I am happy to schedule a 15 minute phone consult to see if this feels like it could be a good fit. If we want to move forward we will then schedule a 55 minute virtual intake session. After that we will collaborate on developing a treatment plan that works best for you, including determining where and when we will walk together for our sessions, or whether we will stick to virtual therapy.
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The cost is $150 for a 55 minute session. Unfortunately at this time I am unable to accept insurance, but I am happy to provide a superbill if you would like to submit for out of network benefits.
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This is something we will determine together based on geographical location and appropriate terrain for each individual. It might be a paved path in a local park, or it might be a more strenuous hike in a forest or the foothills. Maybe some days we will just sit and do our session under a tree.
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We always have virtual sessions as a fallback plan.
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As I am currently not yet offering skills groups, I cannot offer what we call adherent, comprehensive DBT. All of my work is informed by DBT however, and I will incorporate skills into our work where appropriate.
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Absolutely! I aim to treat all human beings with respect and kindness. I am also always open to learning more to help serve the needs of all members of our community.