Welcome!

Welcome to A Peek Inside: a newsletter devoted to demystifying psychology for a healthier life in the modern world.

For those of you who don’t know me, I’m Arielle Friedman, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, based out of Hudson Valley, NY. For the past 15+ years, I have immersed myself in the field of mental health with a focus on intersectional care. My trauma-informed approach weaves elements of cognitive behavioral practice, somatic experiencing, dialectical behavioral practice, and mindfulness.  In collaboration with clients, I explore the relational, environmental, and behavioral inputs that inform engagement, action, or inaction in the world.  No two people, couples, families, or organizations are the same, and I honor every connection as the unique entity that is. Nothing is rote about my approach.

For a long time, I resisted becoming a clinician.  Born of a celebrated clinical behavioral therapist and educator, my destiny was written the moment I touched down earthside.  Periodically throughout my upbringing my mom would note my therapeutic proclivities and suggest what might lay ahead for me professionally.  Despite my admiration for my mother’s work, I was determined to strike an independent path composed of social philosophy and visual art.  But by 25, the jig was up, and there was no resisting my calling to the multi-dimensional world of mental health care. I had come from a pedigreed clinician trained in Freudian psychoanalysis (among other things) who, paradoxically, was a progressive feminist, and I resulted as an interdisciplinarian, resistant to traditional diagnostics.  For years, I have chewed on the complex relationship between evidence-based mental health intervention and flippant colloquial uses of jargon to substantiate soundbytes.  On the one hand, I have chafed at uneducated blanket statements plugged into the broad landscape of self-help.  On the other hand, I have relished society’s integration of meaningful concepts into everyday life, providing greater access to tools that can alleviate anguish and serve as sturdy pavers on the path toward self-actulization.

Se voila! This newsletter was born!

Every month, I will set out to bring in a mental health theme, topic, or school of thought into the conversation, complimented by a piece of media or intervention that helps illustrate the research-backed concept. The goal is to wed substantive mental health support with facets of life that feel accessible, user-friendly, and easily digestible, thereby making integration more organic, seamless, and fun. I hope you will join me for the ride and pass along editions of the newsletter that speak to you most.

Welcome, I am so thrilled that you’re here!

To learn more about my work and offerings, you can always email me arielle@ariellefriedmanlcsw.com to set up a consultation or check me out on IG: @ariellefriedmanlcsw