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.
Molly is a Master’s level Licensed Social Worker and aligns strongly with somatic teachings. When connecting with clients, she believes in considering the whole person and their environments as well as the connection between mind and body. As a compassionate and dedicated therapist, Molly strives to create a safe and supportive space for individuals to explore their emotions, overcome challenges, and achieve personal growth.
Molly works collaboratively with each person, tailoring her approach to fit their unique needs and goals using modalities such as CBT, IFS, and person-centered approach. She believes in empowering people to discover their own strengths through a judgement-free, trauma-informed approach.
Molly’s mission is to help individuals heal, gain insight, and develop the tools they need to navigate life with confidence and resilience. Her clients have described her as someone they feel comfortable with and are able to trust. Molly is intentional about allowing the therapeutic process to develop naturally as rapport strengthens.
Molly has worked with individuals of all ages and is currently open to seeing kids and teens ages 10-17 as well as adults. She’s able to meet with clients in-person or via telehealth Wednesdays – Saturdays.
Sarah Pascetti is a Master’s level Licensed Professional Counselor Candidate who works with individuals ages 18+, couples, and traditional/ non-traditional relationships. She works with a wide variety of clients and clinical specialties, a few of which include discernment therapy for relationships, financial therapy, burnout, self-esteem, eating disorders, and stressors unique to women.
She stands for all things beautiful and complicated about being human. With her first career in healthcare, the decision to become a therapist was an easy one. She has a tremendous amount of life experience which lends itself to providing compassionate care. Whatever path her client chooses- parenting, life transitions, self-esteem, finances, or reproductive care may be part of the story and she is happy to be a part of their healing and growth process.
Making decisions about these life events can be stressful or even feel like a dark comedy; she wants her clients to know she will be there to help navigate the choices and encourage and support alongside them. Sarah enjoys using different therapy styles in a single session. In collaboration with her clients, the sessions may be more traditional talk-therapy style, involve whiteboards, or props.
For those who are hesitant about starting the therapy process, Sarah understands! She knows that for many reasons folks don’t want to take the jump or are unsure of how therapy can help. She encourages clients to take the leap and schedule, knowing they can work at their own pace.
Kristen Hackbarth is a Master’s level Licensed Professional Counselor Candidate (LPCC) who enjoys working with children ages 7+, teens, and adults. Kristen specializes in working with individuals experiencing anxiety, depression, adjustment difficulties, communication & behavioral issues, ADHD, stress, and trauma. Clients describe Kristen as caring, kind, helpful, and easy to talk to. In approaching the therapeutic relationship through a non-judgmental lens, Kristen finds that individuals are able to really explore themselves in order to take the next steps towards healing.
With over 7 years of experience as a teacher prior to moving into a counseling role, she finds that helping children and adolescents learn skills and techniques to navigate their everyday lives is essential for successful development, specifically when facing the challenges of school. When working with kids and teens, Kristen uses components of play therapy while strongly incorporating tools to teach skill building and emotional regulation.
When working with adults and relationship counseling, Kristen uses a variety of approaches to help her clients achieve their goals. These approaches include utilizing a foundational Person-Centered approach while also incorporating Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy techniques. In her work with individuals who have experienced trauma, Kristen allows space for individuals to work at their own pace and in ways in which they are most comfortable. Kristen gently helps her clients understand their traumatic stressors and responses, and learn how to express and regulate their emotions when triggered.
Kristen realizes that beginning the therapeutic journey can be challenging and scary, so she works to ensure that she creates a safe and inviting environment for clients to feel empowered to start their journey. She believes that each individual is unique and deserves to be heard and understood in order to tackle one’s challenges successfully. Kristen understands that the therapeutic relationship starts with empathy and a comfortable and personal connection at the forefront, and she works diligently with each of her clients to create this experience.
Elena Marquez is a Licensed Social Worker who has 16 years of experience working with children ages 5+, adolescents, adults and families. She specializes in grief & loss, trauma, depression, anxiety, ADHD, and day to day life stressors that may affect a person’s quality of life. She enjoys working with the LGBTQIA+ community and military veterans. Clients have described Elena as being consistent, empathetic, non-judgmental, passionate & empowering.
Elena has specialized training in EMDR & Accudetox (Acupuncture Detoxification) which are both evidence-based therapeutic practices that can help resolve painful past trauma and somatic symptoms that may surface with deep rooted trauma. Accudetox can help with cravings of many sorts, smoking cessation, insomnia, anxiety, depression, irritability, agitation & addictive behaviors. Elena has specialized training in EMDR which is an evidence based therapeutic practice that can help resolve painful past trauma. Elena also incorporates other therapeutic approaches into her work such as solution-focused, client-centered, and cognitive behavioral therapies. Utilizing art therapy techniques may also help clients who are more comfortable expressing their thoughts and feelings in visual or tangible ways.
It is very important to Elena to meet each client where they are in their journey and help empower each client to work on becoming the best version of themselves. Elena is passionate about working with each and every client and looks forward to working with you.
Sydney Kerin is a Licensed Social Worker 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.
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.
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.
Insurance Accepted
PWG is proud to accept the following insurance providers:
Aetna and First Health, Anthem, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna and Evernorth, Kaiser Commercial, Medicare, Medicare Advantage, United Healthcare and UMR
Want to find out how to become a Polaris Wellness Client?
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.
