Greetings!

My name is Ariel Saldana. My journey through life as a genderfluid, AFAB, person of color has fueled my passion for creating a space of empathy and compassion for members of my community.

I aim to give my clients the atmosphere and tools they need to reach a higher level of self and understanding. Therapy is a collaborative engagement where I have the pleasure of working with you to reach your goals in a personalized way. So let’s work together by sitting in the hard moments, celebrating your journey, and find the joy in it all!

I have previous experience in being a Behavioral Technician for children with autism, and that role taught me how to customize sessions, be experimental in practice, and let the client lead the way. My practice comes from a holistic, care-based epistemological approach with a focus on meeting the client where they are at in order to build a foundation for healing. I hope to apply my methods to working with teenagers, adults, and partners alike who are experiencing high levels of emotions, communication struggles, identity exploration, and life transitions.

For undergrad, I graduated from Riverside City College with four associate degrees and transferred to California State Long Beach where I earned my Bachelors in Psychology. I am a current MSW student at the University of Michigan, and my goal is to become a Sex Therapist for the LGBTQ+ community. I want to break down the obstacles of colonialism to create an environment of radical acceptance, personal growth, freedom of speech, and, most importantly, queer joy.

In my free time, I love to play video games, indulge in animated works, and I also enjoy going out and experiencing live music of all types. However, my favorite thing to do is be in community with the people I love and laugh the night away together.