Ariel Westerman, Ph.D.
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Montclair, NJ + Virtual
I am a therapist who approaches psychotherapy as a collaboration. Together our work will help you deepen your self-understanding and promote your feelings of agency so that you can experience the growth and fulfillment you are seeking. By actively engaging in a supportive and challenging way, I work to establish a relationship with you in which you feel heard and understood. I listen carefully and nonjudgmentally while encouraging you to explore the constellations of experiences and components of your identity that make you who you are.
Through our work together, we will examine past experiences and relationships in order to help you move forward in a way that allows all aspects of yourself to be represented and honored. I value the connection between the intellectual, emotional, and somatic and seek to understand your experience of the world through a multifaceted lens.
My practice is at its foundation informed by relational psychodynamic theory, but I tailor each treatment to meet the needs of every individual and couple with whom I work. I integrate techniques and methods from CBT, mindfulness theory, as well as trauma-informed psychotherapy approaches.
I have worked extensively with individuals experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship difficulties, and identity concerns. As part of this work, I help individuals consider the sociocultural context that may be impacting their sense of self.
As a couples therapist, I work collaboratively with both partners to facilitate respectful and honest communication. We work together as a team to help you achieve your relationship goals. From a nonjudgmental and nurturing stance, I help you to examine repeated patterns within your relationship and identify ways to promote a deeper connection.
Training
I have a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from The CUNY Graduate Center’s doctoral program at City College. My clinical training includes working with adults, families, couples, and adolescents in community mental health settings as well as in hospitals. I have experience providing psychotherapy at The Psychological Center at City College, The Graduate Center’s Student Counseling Services, and the New Jersey Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
I also hold an undergraduate degree from Harvard where I studied Comparative Literature. Before becoming a psychologist, I worked in the arts at museums in New York City and as a private organizational and academic tutor for individuals experiencing difficulties related to socioemotional and learning challenges.