Arianna Agati, MSW, RSW
Registered Social Worker
Pronouns: they/them
2SLGBTQ+ Affirming Support · Couples & Relationship Counselling · Children, Teens & Families · Queer, Polyamorous & Consensually Non-Monogamous Relationships · Anxiety, Low Mood & Self-Esteem · Healthy Sexual Development, Boundaries & Consent
Hello, I’m Arianna.
I’m a Registered Social Worker with a Master of Social Work, and I am currently pursuing the Clinical Practice Enhancement through the Alberta College of Social Workers.
I offer affirming counselling for children ages five and older, teens, adults, couples, families and caregivers.
You may be exploring your identity, navigating coming out or minority stress, strengthening an important relationship, or looking for support with anxiety, low mood, self-esteem and emotional regulation. I also support children and caregivers with healthy sexual development, boundaries, consent and concerning sexual behaviours.
My professional background includes counselling in an LGBTQ+-focused integrated healthcare program, general outpatient therapy, group facilitation, family work and couples work. I also have supervised experience using the Pathways curriculum with children and caregivers.
My approach is warm, collaborative and practical. I use active listening and open-ended questions to help you feel understood while we develop goals and skills at a pace that fits your needs.
You may be exploring your gender or sexuality, deciding whether or how to come out, or trying to feel more comfortable and confident in your identity.
You may also be experiencing rejection, discrimination, social or political stress, or feeling that important parts of you are not understood. These experiences can affect anxiety, mood, self-esteem, relationships and your sense of belonging.
My professional experience includes counselling in an LGBTQ+-focused integrated healthcare program, facilitating LGBTQ+ groups, providing gender-affirming care referrals and connecting clients with affirming community resources.
Counselling can make room for identity exploration, self-acceptance, relationships, family reactions, minority stress and belonging without assuming there is one right way to identify or move forward.
Exploring your gender or sexuality can bring relief, excitement, uncertainty and fear at the same time. You may be questioning how you identify, considering changes in how you express yourself or worrying about how other people will respond.
I support clients with:
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Gender-identity exploration
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Sexual-identity exploration
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Coming-out decisions and anxiety
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Gender expression
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Self-acceptance
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Family and relationship reactions
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Minority stress
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Finding affirming resources and community
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Referrals and navigation related to gender-affirming care
My role is not to tell you who you are or what decision to make. We can explore what feels meaningful to you, the concerns you are carrying and the support you may need.-
Children and teens may show distress through worry, withdrawal, low confidence, anger, conflict or difficulty explaining what they need.
LGBTQ+ and questioning young people may also be navigating identity, coming out, peer relationships, family reactions, discrimination or pressure to fit in.
I have worked with children from approximately age five, adolescents and their caregivers. Areas of support include:
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Anxiety and worry
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Depression and low mood
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Self-esteem and confidence
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Emotional regulation
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Anger and irritability
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Identity and belonging
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Coming-out concerns
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Peer and relationship difficulties
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Family communication
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Healthy boundaries and consent
Sessions may include conversation, practical skill-building and developmentally appropriate creative activities.
Caregiver involvement is considered according to the child’s age, circumstances, consent, safety needs and treatment goals. The clinic will help clarify who should participate before the first appointment.
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Family concerns can affect each person differently. Parents and caregivers may be trying to support a child while also managing conflict, uncertainty, changing family roles or their own emotional reactions.
I work with parents, caregivers and families around:
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Family communication
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Parent-child relationships
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Emotional-regulation concerns
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Identity-affirming support
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Boundaries and consent
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Changes within the family
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Supporting LGBTQ+ and questioning children and teens
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Caregiver involvement in a child’s counselling
Our work may include understanding recurring patterns, clarifying each person’s needs and identifying practical strategies that reflect your family’s circumstances.
My experience also includes involving caregivers in counselling related to healthy sexual development and concerning sexual behaviours in children.
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Questions or concerns about a child’s sexual behaviour can leave caregivers feeling worried, ashamed or unsure how to respond.
Support begins with understanding the behaviour in context, attending to safety and developmental needs, and helping families communicate without using shame as the starting point.
In a previous role, I worked with children and caregivers using the Pathways curriculum for problematic or concerning sexual behaviours. This work addressed:
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Healthy sexual development
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Healthy sexual expression
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Personal boundaries
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Consent
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Coping skills
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Understanding how behaviour affects other people
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Trauma-related discussions when relevant
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Caregiver involvement
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Building on the child’s strengths
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Developing safer ways of moving forward
An initial consultation helps the clinic understand the child’s age, the behaviour, current safety needs, caregiver participation and any legal or child-protection involvement.-
Relationship support should not assume that every partnership is heterosexual, cisgender or monogamous.
You may be having the same disagreement repeatedly, struggling to explain what you need or trying to strengthen connection while respecting each person’s identity and boundaries.
I work with couples and partners seeking support with:
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Communication difficulties
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Recurring conflict
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Emotional connection
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Intimacy
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Sexual expression
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Boundaries and consent
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Relationship agreements
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Shared goals
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Life transitions
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Changes in relationship structure
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Queer relationships
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Polyamorous relationships
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Consensually non-monogamous relationships
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Other non-traditional relationship structures
I use affirming, sex-positive and consent-oriented language and adapt relationship conversations to the people involved.
I have completed workplace training informed primarily by Gottman concepts. I may draw on Gottman-informed communication strategies when they fit the couple’s needs and goals.
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Clients may want space to discuss intimacy, sexual expression, consent or relationship agreements without judgment or assumptions about gender, sexuality or relationship structure.
Counselling may include conversations about:
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Communicating needs and preferences
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Emotional and physical intimacy
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Differences in expectations
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Consent and personal boundaries
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Relationship agreements
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Changes in connection
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Sex-positive communication
I approach these conversations using affirming, consent-oriented and non-shaming language. I am not a certified sex therapist and do not provide specialized sex therapy.-
You may feel stuck in worry, self-criticism, low motivation, emotional overwhelm or patterns that make it difficult to feel confident and connected.
Anxiety may affect your relationships, work, school or ability to feel settled. Low mood may show up as exhaustion, isolation, loss of interest, reduced motivation or feeling disconnected from yourself and others.
Children and teens may experience these concerns alongside school pressure, identity development, peer relationships or family stress.
I support clients experiencing:
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Anxiety and persistent worry
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Catastrophic thinking
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Depression or low mood
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Low motivation and energy
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Isolation and withdrawal
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Self-esteem concerns
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Low confidence
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Self-criticism
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Emotional overwhelm
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Anger and irritability
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Difficulty regulating emotions
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Relationship stress
Our work may include identifying connections among thoughts, emotions, behaviours and relationships; developing coping strategies; examining unhelpful thought patterns; and setting small, practical goals.
The pace and structure of counselling are adjusted to your needs and readiness.
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Changes in relationships, family roles, school, work, community or identity can affect your sense of direction and belonging.
You may understand that something needs to change while still feeling uncertain about what to do next.
I support clients with:
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Identity development
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Life transitions
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Relationship changes
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Family stress
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Self-worth
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Belonging
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Questions about direction
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School and academic stress
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Changes in community or support systems
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Adjusting to new roles or expectations
Counselling can provide space to understand what is changing, identify what matters to you and decide which next steps feel realistic.
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Questions about faith, spirituality, identity and purpose can become especially important during life transitions, relationship changes, grief or periods of uncertainty.
You may be reconsidering beliefs you grew up with, trying to understand how your identity and faith fit together, or looking for a greater sense of meaning and direction. You may also be navigating acceptance, conflict or belonging within a religious or spiritual community.
If faith or spirituality is important to you, you are welcome to include it in counselling. We can explore your values, beliefs, identity, relationships and sources of meaning without assuming there is one correct belief system or direction you should take.
I follow your perspective and goals rather than imposing religious or spiritual beliefs.
Some clients communicate more comfortably when counselling includes their interests.
Depending on your age, preferences and goals, sessions may incorporate:
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Drawing
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Character creation
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Storytelling
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Imaginative exercises
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Fantasy-based activities
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Dungeons & Dragons-inspired role-play
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Perspective-taking activities
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Creative discussions connected to treatment goals
These activities may support engagement, self-esteem, emotional expression, perspective-taking and skill practice.
I am also a professional digital artist and have facilitated art-focused and role-play-informed groups. My previous experience includes an art-focused self-esteem group and creative programming in which teens developed characters and explored anxiety, depression and self-esteem through fantasy and perspective-taking.
These activities are flexible counselling tools rather than separate clinical specialties.
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How I Support My Clients
Counselling can provide a space to understand what is taking a toll, consider the different pressures affecting you, and identify priorities and changes that feel realistic within your circumstances.
Care Options
In-person counselling in North Edmonton
Virtual counselling across Alberta
Accepting NEW Clients
FREE 15-Minute Consultation
Individuals, couples and family counselling
Who I Work With
Children ages 5-12
Adolescents
Adults & Older Adults
Couples & Partners
Families
Parents & Caregivers
My Approach
My style is warm, collaborative, affirming and strengths-based. I use active listening and open-ended questions to understand your experiences while also helping you identify practical goals.
Sessions can be structured when a clear plan is useful and flexible when something important arises that day.
I balance professionalism with an open environment intended to help clients feel comfortable. I make room for self-reflection and a deeper understanding of thoughts, feelings, behaviours and relationships while also working toward skills and achievable next steps.
I want to understand who you are beyond the concern that brought you to counselling. Your interests, identities, relationships, values and sources of joy can all be important parts of our work.
Depending on your needs, preferences and the purpose of counselling, I may draw from:
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Person-centred and strengths-based practice
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Cognitive behavioural therapy-informed strategies
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Dialectical behaviour therapy-informed skills
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Motivational interviewing
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Solution-focused approaches
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Narrative approaches
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Attachment-based perspectives
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Family-systems perspectives
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Trauma-informed practice
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Gottman-informed relationship strategies
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Values, meaning and client-led spiritual exploration
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Creative and art-based activities
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Interest-based counselling
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Dungeons & Dragons-inspired storytelling and role-play
Approaches are selected according to your age, goals, preferences, readiness and clinical fit.
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Supervised workplace learning and experience using the Pathways curriculum with children presenting with problematic or concerning sexual behaviours
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Couples training informed primarily by Gottman concepts
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A-FIRM-informed LGBTQ+ group facilitation
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Cognitive behavioural approaches
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Dialectical behaviour therapy-informed skills
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Motivational interviewing
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Person-centred practice
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Strengths-based practice
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Solution-focused approaches
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LGBTQ+-affirming education and presentations
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Community outreach and resource navigation
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Gender-affirming care referral support
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My clinical background includes individual, group and family work in LGBTQ+-focused integrated healthcare and general outpatient services.
I have supported clients from approximately age five through older adulthood and have worked with children, teens, adults, couples, partners, families and caregivers.
My professional experience includes:
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Individual counselling
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Family counselling
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Couples and relationship work
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Group counselling and facilitation
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Biopsychosocial information gathering
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Treatment planning
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Monitoring client progress
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Care coordination
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Gender-affirming care referrals
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Community-resource navigation
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Collaboration with therapists and physicians
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Collaboration with psychiatric services
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Collaboration with case managers and social services
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LGBTQ+-affirming education and presentations
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Pride planning and community outreach
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Program-quality and sustainability work
I have facilitated or co-facilitated:-
LGBTQ+ adult groups
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A-FIRM-informed group programming
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Teen groups
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An art-focused self-esteem group
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Creative role-play-informed teen programming
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A residential art group supporting creative expression and social connection
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Community education and LGBTQ+-affirming presentations
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Master of Social Work, Advanced Standing, children and families focus - Southern Connecticut State University, 2022
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Registered Social Worker - Alberta College of Social Workers, General Registry #20483
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Currently pursuing the Clinical Practice Enhancement through the Alberta College of Social Workers
Education & Registration
I believe people deserve a counselling space where their identity, relationships and lived experiences can be discussed without judgment.
Growth and healing are not uniform or linear. Each person’s experience is different and may include progress, setbacks and unexpected obstacles.
My role is to listen carefully, help organize what feels overwhelming and work alongside you as you develop confidence, skills and a clearer sense of direction.
I strive to provide an environment that supports safety, openness and understanding regardless of a client’s background or identity.
My experience includes supporting clients across different ages, cultural backgrounds, gender identities and sexual orientations. I pay attention to the personal, relational, community and broader social contexts that may affect a client’s wellbeing.
I have particular experience working with 2SLGBTQ+ clients and understand how minority stress, discrimination, access to affirming spaces, relationships and social or political pressures may affect mental health.
Faith and spirituality may also be important parts of a person’s identity, family relationships and community life. Clients are welcome to discuss religious beliefs, spiritual practices, uncertainty, changes in faith or experiences within religious communities when these concerns are relevant to counselling.
You are welcome to bring the parts of your identity, culture, beliefs, relationships, family and community that matter to you into our conversations.
We will begin by discussing what brings you to counselling and what you hope might be different.
I will explain confidentiality and the practical expectations for therapy. I will ask about relevant parts of your background, concerns, relationships, interests and values so we can begin developing a clearer picture of what you would like to work on.
You do not need to arrive with a perfectly organized explanation. You can share as much or as little as you feel comfortable sharing.
By the end of the session, we will begin identifying goals and discuss possible next steps for future appointments.
For children, teens, couples or families, we will also clarify who will participate and how information will be handled within the service.
Get to Know Arianna
More About Me
Outside of counselling, I enjoy:
Playing Dungeons & Dragons with loved ones
Drawing characters
Creating digital artwork
Reading
Playing video games
Travelling
Exploring new places
I have worked as a professional digital artist creating personalized character illustrations. My background in art, character development and storytelling often helps me connect with clients who also enjoy creative or imaginative worlds.
Individual Counselling - 50 Minutes
$235
per session
Your fee includes 50 minutes with your therapist and 10 minutes for clinical documentation.
Other Funding Program(s)
BFF (Breaking Free Foundation)
Funding requires an approved therapy grant
Questions about direct billing or receipts?
Our team is happy to help. Please contact our administrative team before your appointment to confirm available options.
Direct Billing Available
Direct billing is available for eligible plans with the insurers listed below:
Alberta Blue Cross
Green Shield
Sun Life (Insurer’s form required)
Telus e-Claims
The claimXchange
Don’t see your insurer listed?
You may still have coverage. We provide receipts that you can submit to your insurer for reimbursement. Please confirm eligibility and coverage limits with your insurer before booking.
Direct Billing & Funding Options
Still have questions?
Not sure where to begin? Contact our admin team for help exploring therapist and appointment options that may be a good fit for your needs.
FAQs
Find answers to common questions about therapy with Arianna below. If you still have questions, contact us for answers. Our team is here to help.
No. Arianna offers affirming counselling to clients of different identities and backgrounds.
Their experience is particularly relevant for 2SLGBTQ+ and questioning clients, but clients may also seek support for anxiety, low mood, self-esteem, emotional regulation, relationships, family concerns or life changes.
Yes. Arianna works with children ages five and older and with adolescents.
Their child and youth work may include identity, anxiety, low mood, self-esteem, emotional regulation, anger, relationships, family communication, boundaries and consent.
No. Arianna’s work with children and teens is much broader than sexual behaviour support.
They also support younger clients with identity exploration, coming-out concerns, anxiety, low mood, self-esteem, emotional regulation, anger, relationships, family communication, minority stress, belonging, boundaries and consent.
Arianna has supervised prior experience using the Pathways curriculum with children and caregivers around problematic or concerning sexual behaviours.
An initial consultation is needed to understand the child’s age, the behaviour, current safety needs, caregiver participation and any legal or child-protection involvement.
Yes. Arianna has experience supporting couples and partners with communication, conflict, emotional connection, intimacy, boundaries, agreements and shared goals.
This includes queer, polyamorous, consensually non-monogamous and other non-traditional relationship structures.
Clients may discuss intimacy, sexual expression, consent, boundaries and relationship agreements within the scope of counselling.
Arianna approaches these conversations using affirming, sex-positive and non-shaming language. They are not a certified sex therapist and do not provide specialized sex therapy.
Yes. Faith, spirituality, religious experiences and questions about meaning or purpose can be included when they are important to you.
Arianna approaches these conversations from the client’s perspective and does not impose a particular religious or spiritual viewpoint.
The consultation is a brief introductory conversation where you can describe the support you are seeking, ask about Arianna’s experience and approach, and explore whether their services may be a good fit.
It is not a therapy session, diagnostic assessment, forensic assessment or crisis service.
Yes. Arianna offers virtual counselling to clients located in Alberta, as well as in-person appointments in North Edmonton.
My Availability
Tuesday
12:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Wednesday
12:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Arianna’s regular hours are shown above. The live booking calendar is the final source for current openings and availability changes.
Book with Arianna
You do not need to have everything figured out before reaching out.
You can book a full counselling session, schedule a free 15-minute consultation or contact our administrative team for help deciding which appointment option may fit your needs.
Same week appointment may be available.