PuttingFamilyFirst

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AP Portrait of Ariel Phelps
Online therapist

Ariel Phelps

Compassionate counseling for families and parents

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Credentials
LPC, LCMHC
Experience
6 years
Licensed in
Virginia, North Carolina
Languages
English
Format
Online sessions

About Ariel

Ariel Phelps is a licensed counselor who uses a client-focused approach to help families and parents navigate hard moments. She brings six years of professional experience and practical support for issues like parenting challenges, family conflicts, and low self-esteem. Ariel speaks plainly and aims to make the first steps feel manageable for someone who is worried or overwhelmed.

She tailors conversations and plans to each person’s needs instead of using the same plan for everyone.

Background and approach

Ariel draws on Client-Centered Therapy to listen and build trust. She also uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to address thinking patterns that cause distress. Clients can expect a tone of respect, sensitivity, and compassion in sessions.

Ariel emphasizes collaboration and clear next steps rather than vague goals. She helps people break big problems into small, doable actions. Her focus includes depression, anxiety, stress, grief, anger, relationship strain, and career concerns.

Additional topics she handles include postpartum depression, fertility-related stress, personality concerns, and process addictions. These areas are addressed with practical strategies and ongoing adjustment of the plan. Ariel holds two licenses: Licensed Professional Counselor, LPC, and Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor, LCMHC.

She practices from North Carolina and conducts work in English. The approach is straightforward and aimed at making day-to-day life more manageable.

Therapeutic approaches suited to online family support

Ariel combines listening-focused and skills-based approaches to help clients make steady progress. Client-Centered Therapy centers on acceptance and understanding; the therapist follows the client’s lead and creates space for honest conversation, which can help people feel heard and clearer about next steps.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at the links between thoughts, feelings, and actions. It uses practical exercises to change unhelpful thinking and build different habits, which can reduce anxiety and improve mood over time.

Choosing an approach is a collaborative process. Ariel will work with each person to decide which methods fit their goals and preferences, and she adjusts plans as needs change so the work stays relevant and useful.

Online formats make it easier to fit therapy into a busy family life. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation, phone sessions remove travel time, and live chat or text messaging offer brief check-ins and reminders between sessions. These options increase flexibility and make ongoing support more accessible for people balancing parenting and family responsibilities.

Client-Centered Therapy

The direction comes from you rather than from a set programme. The therapist offers a warm, non-judgemental space to think out loud and work at your own pace. Online, this rests on the relationship rather than on being in the same room.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT looks at the link between what you think, how you feel, and what you do. You work on noticing unhelpful patterns and practising steadier responses. It suits online sessions well, because much of the work happens between appointments and can be talked through from anywhere.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

Concrete skills for riding out strong emotion, tolerating distress, and handling relationships without things escalating. The skills are practised in daily life, so between-session support by message or phone fits naturally.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of problems does Ariel address?
She focuses on family and parenting concerns plus issues like self-esteem, depression, anxiety, stress, grief, anger, relationship and career challenges.
What is her therapeutic style like?
Her work is client-centered and collaborative. She listens closely and adapts conversations and plans to each person’s needs.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has six years of professional experience working with people on family conflicts, parenting issues, motivation, and mood concerns.
What are her credentials and where does she practice?
She holds LPC and LCMHC credentials with license numbers VA LPC 0701011187 and NC LCMHC 18239 and practices in North Carolina.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work with her?
International clients are not currently accepted.
What session formats are available?
She meets via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging.
How does pricing and getting started work?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time; to begin, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a session.

Specialties and expertise

Top specialties

Also works with

Therapeutic approaches

Experience
6 years
Licensed
Virginia, North Carolina
Languages
English

Next step

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