Ariana Gioia is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified Clinical Trauma Professional based in Colorado Springs, CO. She specializes in complex trauma, codependency, issues faced by women, anxiety, OCD, grief, relationship issues, and adjustment difficulties. Ariana’s clients describe her as easy to talk to, non-judgmental, validating, and empathetic.
Ariana cares deeply for working with survivors of suicide and those who have lost a loved one to drug overdose. Surviving this type of loss is not only devastating but is often misunderstood and invalidated by those who do not know this type of complicated grief. Additionally, Ariana understands how parenthood can strain relationships and impact shifts in identity and values throughout the course of a lifetime. She enjoys working with clients adjusting to the challenges and changes associated with parenthood.
Many of Ariana’s clients seek therapy to address unresolved complex traumas and grief. These experiences negatively impact their functioning and relationships, resulting in anxiety, depression, shame, or codependency. She is dedicated to helping clients heal from past experiences, rebuild self-worth, and find happiness and meaning.
Ariana utilizes techniques such as EMDR, Ego State/Parts Work, and CBT. She practices a trauma-informed, attachment-based, client-centered, and emotionally-focused approach with her clients. She helps clients develop awareness and understanding of the impact of their beliefs about themselves and others, and their patterns of personal and interpersonal behaviors.
Through insight, deeper connection, and compassion for themselves, clients are able to heal past wounds and create meaningful and lasting change in their lives and relationships.
Sarah Roberts is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker based in Colorado Springs, CO, and is licensed to work with clients in both Colorado and South Carolina. She specializes in working with women, major life transitions, trauma, fertility and family building, anxiety, depression, and grief and loss. Clients have described Sarah as supportive, non-judgmental, relatable, and reliable.
Sarah’s passion is to see individuals foster and build upon their inner strength and overcome incredible obstacles. Therapy will be beneficial to most individuals at some point in their lives; however, Sarah takes a holistic approach to healing and enjoys incorporating other wellness modalities and services into her work. Integrating referrals for nutrition counseling, medication management, body and energy work, as well as being intentional with physical movement can easily be included if those are areas a client would like to explore.
Sarah’s clients are often struggling with potential life changes such as career moves, marriage, divorce, major lifestyle shifts, or relocation. Clients may also be those who have experienced a recent traumatic event or are ready to work through an event from many years ago. They’re frequently navigating the challenges of family building – pregnancy, fertility treatments, adoption, perinatal mood disorders, and traumatic births.
Sarah enjoys incorporating EMDR/BLAS, mindfulness, and CBT into her regular practice with clients. Each person is welcomed into a safe and nurturing environment to begin their personal work. The use of client-centered approaches will help guide each person through a healing process that aligns with their own goals, personalities, and belief systems.
Sarah is committed to helping those who are ready to build the best versions of themselves. We have the ability to shape our futures by working through our pasts while also living in the present moment. Sarah’s ready to help you start your next chapter in the healthiest way possible.
Jaden LaBrake is a Master’s level Social Worker (MSW) and a Clinical Social Work Candidate based in Colorado Springs. Throughout her academic career, Jaden has worked with a variety of topics, including interpersonal violence, stalking, sexual assault, Adult Protection Services, & Child Protection Services,.
In Jaden’s experience, individuals often feel they are “broken”, and therefore their goal is to be “fixed”. Jaden believes people are not “broken”, and rather than seeking to “fix” people, she is committed to working collaboratively with individuals to co-create unique and meaningful experiences.
Jaden is passionate about respecting the autonomy of the individuals she collaborates with, and strongly believes people are the experts in their lives. She understands that each person is at a different stage of change and respects their current needs and desires, as well as their future aspirations, and works to empower all individuals to reach their goals utilizing evidence-based practices, including EMDR treatment.
Jaden understands the barriers and challenges of attending therapeutic sessions and aims to create a safe, welcoming space for all who enter. She welcomes all gender expressions, identities, and sexual orientations and typically works with adult clients. She is honored and excited to be part of your therapeutic journey.
Jasmine Bonenfant is a masters-level clinician and an LPCC based in Colorado Springs. She specializes in complex PTSD focusing on childhood, sexual, and attachment trauma. Jasmine’s additional specialties include ADHD and Autism, Adoption, Anxiety, Depression, Stress-management, Self-esteem, Spirituality, and working with the LGBTQIA+ community. She currently works with teens 16+, adults, and traditional/ non-traditional relationships.
Jasmine is committed to nurturing a therapeutic relationship that is grounded in safety, acceptance, and trust as she works to help individuals gain a deeper understanding of themselves, their symptoms, and their relationships. She helps clients examine the “stories” and “parts” of themselves that contribute to their self concept and perspectives of their experience and reality. She believes in the power of “coming back home” to your true self and approaches the therapeutic journey with patience, empathy, and compassion. Jasmine focuses on a non-judgmental and nurturing approach while providing concrete tools and resources to use along the way.
Jasmine’s passion is to support mind/body awareness and integration. She enjoys incorporating somatic practices, nervous system regulation techniques, and mindfulness. Her approach emphasizes the importance of looking at all areas of your life and using a whole-body approach to healing. Jasmine utilizes techniques from EMDR, Internal Family Systems, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, Inner child/ Parts work, CBT, Strengths-Based, and Narrative Therapy.
Jasmine believes therapy is an essential tool in developing true self-acceptance, healing old wounds, discovering healthy self-worth, enhancing overall well-being, improving relationships, and fulfilling untapped potential. As your therapist, Jasmine knows that you are worthy of finding and experiencing freedom from within and she will meet you exactly where you are, walking alongside you one step at a time. She recognizes how much courage it takes to come to therapy and is honored and excited to be a partner in your experience.
Matthew Rummel is a Master’s level Licensed Professional Counselor, Candidate. Matthew specializes in anxiety, OCD, depression, trauma, family conflict, and life transitions. Matthew utilizes a variety of approaches based on his client’s needs in each session. However, he primarily works through the modalities of EMDR, CBT, DBT, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Reality Choice Therapy, Person Centered Therapy, and Trauma-Informed Care. Matthew works with clients ages 12 and older, couples, traditional and non-traditional relationship styles, and families.
Matthew is dedicated to and is passionate about the LGBTQIA+ community and the social, emotional, psychological, familial, and religious issues that can arise from being a member, ally, or relative of someone in that community. Matthew sees the importance of working with family systems to strengthen parent’s understanding, acceptance, and support of their children. Matthew cares deeply about assisting his clients in navigating through the challenges of coming out and authentically knowing and expressing their identity. He welcomes all gender expressions and sexual orientations in a safe and non-judgmental environment.
Matthew’s passion is to help others develop the tools necessary to cope with challenges as they arise in everyday life. These tools can include increasing self-awareness and self-acceptance, developing resiliency and interpersonal boundaries, or strengthening communication and conflict resolution skills. It’s his goal to empower clients with the ability to utilize the tools they possess so they can lead healthy, healed, and well balanced lives. Matthew knows that reaching out and talking to someone new can be scary and daunting. He will always endeavor to provide support, empowerment, safety, inclusivity, and acceptance so his clients have the room they need for healing and self-discovery. Together, Matthew and his clients can work on reclaiming agency, building resilience, and fostering authenticity.
Sydney Kerin is a Clinical Social Work Candidate who has experience working with children ages 10+, adolescents, and adults. She specializes in ADHD, trauma, self-esteem/confidence, depression, anxiety, and working with LGBTQIA+ community members. Clients have described Sydney as empathetic, empowering, and non-judgemental.
Sydney is passionate about working with individuals with ADHD and neurodiversity, using their strengths to help them reach their goals. Sydney understands that having ADHD and neurodiversity presents unique challenges and believes in embracing and working alongside your brain, rather than trying to fix something that is not broken. Additionally, Sydney takes a client centered and trauma focused approach with her clients. She has specialized training in EMDR and enjoys helping clients process through and heal from painful, unresolved experiences from their past. Through validation, insight, and reframing negative thinking patterns, she empowers clients in their healing journey.
Sydney’s clients often struggle with feeling like they are not good enough and work twice as hard to prove themselves. Whether it stems from unhealthy relationships, trauma, or growing up with high expectations, these clients put so much effort into meeting the needs of others that they often forget to meet their own needs. Regardless of whether a client is already on their healing path or thinking about beginning, she helps clients rebuild their identity, self-worth, and autonomy.
Sydney knows that each client coming into therapy has their own story and needs. She enjoys adapting her approach to meet the client where they are in their journey. She may utilize techniques such as CBT, DBT, EMDR, and play therapy. Through an inclusive, collaborative approach, Sydney empowers clients to develop a deeper understanding of themselves and facilitate the change they want to see in themselves.
Kelly is a Master’s level Licensed Professional Counselor Candidate (LPCC) based in Colorado Springs who works with children, adolescents, adults, and relationships. Kelly has dedicated the majority of her career to supporting first responders, children and adults involved in the criminal justice system, law enforcement, and affected family members. Throughout her 15 years working in social services, Kelly developed a deep belief in the capacity for people to change, improve their lives, circumstances, and choices, and to create a new start for themselves and their families.
Kelly understands the challenges and traumas faced by first responders and law enforcement members and cares deeply for supporting their healing and resiliency. Throughout her years working with this population, she has also seen the impact that the stress and trauma experienced by first responders and law enforcement has on their family systems, partners, and children. Kelly skillfully works with these clients to help them manage symptoms of PTSD, grief, anger, interpersonal conflict and relationship strain, and substance use.
As a trauma focused therapist, Kelly knows the experiences that individuals face in childhood, and the family system that they grow up in, play a significant role in their development, self concept, coping skills, life path, and relationships. She aims to help her clients understand how their experiences impact their beliefs, thoughts, and feelings and she works with them to develop tools to reduce distress and disruption to their lives and functioning. In her work with clients, Kelly utilizes a variety of therapeutic techniques, drawing from trauma- focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Gottman Method, EMDR, and Attachment Theory.
Kelly understands many of the barriers, hesitations, and anxieties people face entering counseling services, so she is intentional about creating a relaxed, non-judgmental space where clients can explore their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. She looks forward to working alongside her clients to empower them to make positive changes in their lives.
Allifair Mundine
Front Desk Coordinator
She / Her / Hers
Allifair Mundine is the front desk coordinator for Polaris Wellness Group. She oversees a variety of administrative operations including scheduling, billing and insurance, and client interactions. Allifair has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a Minor in Sociology and is looking to pursue her Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. She has experience and skill in working with special needs and neurodivergent children and has enjoyed the personal and professional growth that has come as a result of her work with these populations. Allifair is passionate about mental health, holistic wellness, and supporting the LGBTQ and recovery communities. She aspires to give back to her community and to be a positive support in the lives of others.
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A Safe and Inclusive Place
PWG is passionate and committed to helping all clients. We offer a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment to culturally diverse and LGBTQIA+ clients. We are dedicated to providing culturally competent, quality wellness services with providers who are supportive, aligned, and accepting.
