Ariana Cohn
Do you find yourself over-apologizing or carrying responsibilities that don't belong to you? Did you grow up in a home where feelings weren't tolerated? If that resonates, you are not alone. I work with adults who grew up in challenging, dysfunctional, or abusive environments and still feel the effects on their relationships and self worth today. We will explore these dynamics and how they have come to shape your life and sense of self. Together, we'll build the insight, confidence, and self trust needed to heal one step at a time. When we work together, you will be welcomed with curiosity, warmth, empathy, and a genuinely nonjudgmental space. You'll be supported in exploring and breaking generational pattens, learning to navigate difficult emotions, and challenging your inner critic. My goal is to help you grow stronger, more resilient, and more empowered along the way. Clients describe me as warm, easy to talk to, and authentic. Therapy with me is a space where can show up fully as you are and start creating a life that feels more peaceful, connected, and your own. Starting this journey can be hard, but you're not alone.
Warm, authentic, strengths-focused therapist accepting new clients
First session
Coming in to a new experience can feel scary, unknown, or overwhelming. I am here and open to answer any questions you may have and you can expect to be met with compassion and understanding. In our first session together, I will be asking about what is bringing you in for therapy and try to get a picture of how this concern is currently impacting you. We may delve into your upbringing, current relational/family dynamics present, work history, education, and other social/environmental factors impacting mental health. In session you can feel free to: curse (I will go first), sit however you are comfortable, eat, drink water/soda/coffee/etc., ask to slow the pacing down, or ask clarifying questions.
Strengths
This is a space where you will never feel judged, made to feel like 'too much', or invalidated. I often bring therapy-appropriate humor in as a tool for self-reflection, guidance, and deeper insight into areas for growth/change.
Ideal clients
I work with many people struggling with depression, anxiety, ADHD, PTSD, and relationship concerns, many of whom have struggled with these concerns silently for years. Many people I work with want to learn to manage the symptoms of their mental health concerns and challenge thoughts/ideas they learned growing up that are no longer serving them. They want to heal and grow to become a stronger parent, friend, partner, employee, or boss--many wish to break generational cycles that growing up in dysfunctional or chaotic environments created.
Origin story
In my work as a social worker and therapist, I look not just at the person, but at the systems they live in — family, work, community, culture — and how those shape their mental health. I am drawn to this work because it provides me with the opportunity to support people in reframing previously held unfair or unrealistic expectations placed on them. I work to support my clients in recognizing their own strengths, abilities, and self-worth.
Ongoing work together
Each session, I may ask what would feel helpful to work on for today and support you in identifying what that may be (whether a present problem or one from the past that is currently impacting you). I will always show up authentically and casually and want this to feel like a comfortable and supportive place for you to be your authentic self.
Treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I use a strength-based cognitive behavioral therapy approach to my sessions, identifying what automatic negative thoughts or distortions are occurring in your brain and how these are impacting self-worth, communication, and relationships. We work on reframing these negative self-beliefs into more positive and constructive forms of change.
Location
Virtual sessions