Who I Am — The Person Behind the Practice

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been deeply curious about people and how we connect. Growing up, I found myself fascinated by the unique stories that shape who we are and how we interact. I believe that everyone has a good reason to be who they are and where they are in life, and my passion is helping individuals, couples, and families understand how these reasons influence their relationships and personal journeys.

This belief is at the heart of everything I do in therapy. Whether we’re exploring the patterns that affect relationships or uncovering the deeper emotions that guide us, my goal is to help you make sense of your past and present so you can create the future you want.

What I love most about my work is how perfectly it aligns with my passion for connection and growth. I’m incredibly lucky that my favorite hobby—talking to people, understanding them, and helping them move forward—also happens to be my career. Being a therapist is truly a privilege, and there's nothing more rewarding than watching people transform their relationships with themselves and others. 

When I first read the quote, “The quality of our relationships determines the quality of our lives,” (Esther Perel) something clicked. It captured what I had been noticing for years in both my own life and in the lives of people around me: relationships are at the center of everything. When they’re strong, we feel more grounded. When they’re strained, everything feels a little harder.

That’s what drew me to Marriage and Family Therapy. I wanted to work with people in a way that honored the full context of their lives—not just as individuals, but as partners, parents, adult children, friends. Whether we’re working one-on-one or with your loved ones, I pay close attention to the relational patterns that shape how you show up, connect, and experience life.

To me, this work isn’t just about solving problems—it’s about helping you feel more understood, more connected, and more able to create the kind of relationships you actually want to be in.

I’m not your typical therapist who just asks how you feel and nods in silence. Therapy with me is collaborative, honest, challenging, vulnerable, and—believe it or not—fun. It’s kind of like a good workout: sometimes tough in the moment, but you leave feeling clearer, lighter, and a little sore in the best way. (And if you actually like working out—great, you’ll probably enjoy the challenge even more.)

I’m fully engaged in our work. I ask questions, offer reflections, and bring curiosity and intention into every session. I look for the many good reasons you are who you are, while also gently challenging you to grow—both within yourself and in your relationships.

Clients often tell me they feel truly seen by me—and surprisingly at ease, even when we’re exploring the hard stuff. We might laugh, we might cry, we might uncover something you didn’t expect. But no matter what, we do it together.

I show up as a real person in the room—the same Ari my friends and family know. I bring both depth and playfulness into the process, always aiming to create a space that feels safe, connected, and real. Because good therapy doesn’t feel clinical—it feels human, grounded, and full of possibility.

When I say this work is my passion, I truly mean it. Helping people grow—both within themselves and in their relationships—doesn’t end when I close my laptop. I’m often reading about relationships, listening to podcasts like Where Should We Begin with Esther Perel, and diving into case consults and ongoing trainings that deepen my skills—because this is the work I love.

I’ve continued to pursue advanced training in several evidence-based approaches that shape how I work with individuals, couples, and families. I’ve trained in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), developed by Dr. Sue Johnson, and draw heavily from its emotionally attuned, attachment-based lens. I’ve also trained in the Gottman Method, which provides practical, research-backed tools to strengthen relationships. And I’m deeply influenced by the work of Esther Perel, whose writing and teaching illuminate the tension between our human needs for security and novelty, togetherness and autonomy.

These frameworks offer me a flexible, integrative toolkit—but I’m never just following a script. Every person and couple brings something unique into the room. My job is to meet you where you are, with curiosity, care, and a commitment to helping you move toward the relationships and life you want.

Outside the therapy room, I live much of what I help others navigate inside it. I’m in a long-term relationship that, like any, has its own moments of laughter, learning, and growth. I often say that my relationship is one of my greatest teachers—it’s where I get to practice what I talk about in sessions: staying open, working through the messiness, and choosing connection again and again.

My partner and I live with our two dogs, Bylou and Prosper, who are easily the most spoiled members of the household. Whether we’re hiking nearby trails, exploring new spots around our city, or planning our next travel adventure, I try to stay close to the things that make life feel rich—connection, nature, curiosity, and play.

When I’m not with clients, I’m usually out in the world soaking up all the big and small things that make life feel full—traveling to new places, catching live music and comedy, sharing good food with people I love, or getting lost in conversations that go way past bedtime. I believe the more richly we live, the more we have to bring into the therapy room. It’s all connected—how we play, how we love, how we heal.