Ariel Brafford, MA, LCMHC, LPC, NCC

I am Ariel Brafford, MA, LCMHC (Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor), LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor), NCC (National Certified Counselor). I am fully licensed in North Carolina & South Carolina. I believe that clients have within themselves the capacity to learn and grow from their experiences as they develop more meaningful, healthier, and happier lives. Seeking counseling can be an initial step towards finding clarity and affirmation of one’s self. I work with adolescents and adults (ages 16+) on a range of developmental and mental health related concerns. I have a passion for working with individuals impacted by chronic illness. Other specific areas of experience and competence include grief, trauma, neurodiversity, LGBTQIA+, gender, and adjustment related concerns, depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, college concerns, and life transitions. I utilize an eclectic approach in making use of treatment modalities, most commonly pulling from Internal Family Systems (IFS), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Narrative Therapy (NT). I enjoy supporting clients as they explore what they desire their life stories to read and what they want to achieve in life. Counseling may include healing emotional wounds, addressing coping skills, or simply working towards connecting with oneself. My role as a counselor is to help facilitate a non-judgmental professional partnership with clients as we work together towards that clarity. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my husband, two children, a Great Pyrenees, and six cats. The house is always busy! Other passions include reading, cooking, hiking, and exploring any new place in nature. Please feel free to reach out to see if I am the right fit for you! I cannot wait to meet you where you are on your journey and see how I can be of help to you!