

Hey hey hey, I’m Ariel Wilson Gbenedio, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, transformational speaker, and author dedicated to helping people heal, grow, and step into their power.
I have nearly a decade of experience in the mental health field, working across a wide range of settings including crisis residential treatment, outpatient care, and program development. I’ve had the privilege of supporting individuals navigating trauma, anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, and major life transitions. My work is rooted in evidence-based practices such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and trauma-informed care—blended with a deeply human, compassionate approach.
I earned my Master’s in Social Work from the University of Southern California and have served in both clinical and leadership roles, including Clinical Director. Throughout my career, I’ve been passionate about creating spaces where people feel seen, heard, and safe enough to do the real work of healing.
My approach to therapy is collaborative, empowering, and honest. I believe healing isn’t about “fixing” you—because you are not broken. It’s about understanding your story, shifting limiting beliefs, and helping you build a life that feels aligned, fulfilling, and authentic. I specialize in working with high-achieving women, individuals struggling with self-worth, trauma recovery, and those feeling stuck in cycles that no longer serve them.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, or ready for something more in your life, you don’t have to navigate it alone. My goal is to help you develop the insight, tools, and confidence to create lasting change—and to remind you of the strength that already exists within you.
Born and raised in New York, I understand the pressure of moving fast, thinking fast, and feeling like you always have to keep it together. I’m an Asian American woman of Indian descent and the daughter of immigrants, and much of my work is informed by personally navigating the space between cultures, expectations, and identity.
Before becoming a therapist, I spent a decade in corporate media leading marketing teams for Fortune 500 companies. I’m especially attuned to the ways perfectionism, people-pleasing, and chronic overfunctioning can quietly drive anxiety, burnout, and self-criticism — patterns many of us know well.
My path to this work was not linear. After over 20 years in a long-term interracial relationship and a meaningful career pivot at age 40, I bring both clinical training and lived experience into the therapy room. Today, as a parent of two school-age children (and two fur babies), I understand what I value most in life. More info about me on www.pranapsychotherapy.com
If you feel overwhelmed by a sea of things outside of your control— facing a new health diagnosis, a deep loss or the weight of anxiety—I am here to help you anchor yourself. I am a multi-state licensed therapist (CA, MA, WA, MD, SC) offering flexible scheduling coast to coast. I am dedicated to helping you move from feeling boxed in to feeling empowered to make changes. My approach is centered on controlling the controllables. We will work together to identify the practical steps you can take today whether you are navigating through a career change or new stage in your life, or processing the deeper emotional impact of grief, trauma or chronic illness. I look forward to helping you find your footing and reclaim your sense of agency.
I have completed a MA in Counseling Psychology. I have worked with diverse populations covering many issues. My approach is client focused through active listening skills and empathic support.
I’m a California Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist. I am trained in Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR) and have a certification in perinatal mental health (PMH-C). Before I was a therapist, I worked as a preschool teacher. I was drawn to clinical work because of the struggles that I observed in the families of the children in my classrooms. During my clinical training, I worked primarily with couples, teens, and adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Though I love working with children, I am passionate about my work with adults because healthy, supported, and self-compassionate adults are the key to health for future generations.
I have been helping families and individuals find a path of healing for 20 years. I have additional training in hypnosis for those who would like to try it.


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