Ariel Brafford, MA, LCMHC, NCC, CGP

I am Ariel Brafford, MA, LCMHC (Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor), NCC (National Certified Counselor), CGP (Certified Grief-Informed Professional). 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, 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 walking with 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 improving 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, scrapbooking, and exploring any beach. 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! **Personal Statement** I believe in creating a safe space, upholding equity, and fighting against systemic barriers in mental health care and in our world. It is my mission as a Clinician to provide caring, ethical, and effective treatment in an atmosphere of safety and respect. The following are core professional values of the counseling profession and are values I am committed to maintaining: 1. Enhancing human development throughout the life span; 2. Honoring diversity and embracing a multicultural approach in support of the worth, dignity, potential, and uniqueness of people within their social and cultural contexts; 3. Promoting social justice; 4. Safeguarding the integrity of the counselor–client relationship; and 5. Practicing in a competent and ethical manner.