Ariel Anderson (she/her)

My Approach to Helping

I believe in helping empower you to solve your own problems through cultivating confidence, positive regard, and gaining power over thought distortions. I believe that experiential learning through the art making process and the therapeutic relationship can help one increase their ability for creative problem solving, self soothing, thought exploration, emotional expression, somatic processing, healthy communication, and reflective distance. I believe in dealing with the complexity of this world through utilizing chaos theory– the more we fill up the metaphorical toolbox of coping skills, the more options we have to use whenever life brings us troubles or something unexpected, and the more we have an open mind to potential paths forward when we face troubles, the more likely we will choose a path that is in line with our values and helps us in achieving our desired goals.

My Personal Beliefs and Interests

I was born and raised in SE Portland, attended Linn Benton Community College, Oregon State University, and graduated from Marylhurst University. I identify as a pansexual female. In my free time I enjoy: making multimedia artwork, reading fantasy and sci-fi novels, listening to audiobook lectures about astrophysics and the universe, creative writing, cuddling with my Great Dane and binge watching TV shows, baking and cooking, hanging out with friends, and DIY projects. I am passionate about working with individuals struggling with addiction because I detest the stigma that exists for addicts and think addiction is intimately connected with one's other mental health struggles and treating them together is one of the best ways to create a holistic and effective relapse prevention plan. I am also passionate about helping folks stay in recovery because I know it is a life long journey, not a box that can be checked by going to treatment.