LMFT, 15 years of experience
Hi, I’m Dr. Arenas Nieves, a licensed therapist in Arizona, Florida, and New York, with over 15 years of experience supporting individuals on their journey toward mental and emotional wellness. I work with adolescents, adults, and seniors, and I’m fluent in both English and Spanish. Although I’ve worked with many populations throughout my career, my niche includes military service members, veterans, their families, and underrepresented community members such as people of color, neurodivergent individuals, and LGBTQIA+ clients. I specialize in ADHD, family issues, LGBTQIA+ and identity concerns, and relationship challenges, as well as anxiety, depression, trauma, PTSD, anger, grief and loss, cultural and ethnic issues, maternal and men’s issues, and chronic conditions. My style is affirming, inquisitive, and solution-oriented. I aim to create a collaborative, judgment-free space where you feel supported, seen, and empowered to make meaningful change.
During our first session, you can expect a high level of curiosity on my part related to your development up to this point, your self-described difficulties, and your goals. This time allows us to explore whether we’re a good fit for your wellness journey. If the fit feels right, we’ll work together to develop a personalized plan and discuss what therapy will look like moving forward. You can expect therapy with me to feel affirming, engaging, and deeply personalized. My goal is to create a space where you can show up fully as yourself—where every part of who you are is valued, understood, and supported. I’m excited to walk beside you on your path toward healing and growth. (Please note: session rates may vary for couples or family sessions. Feel free to schedule a consult call with me to see if we’re a good fit!)
I am a passionate clinician who believes in collaboration, authenticity, and honoring every part of your experience. In therapy, we’ll work together to identify the best evidence-based approaches to help you reach your goals while affirming your personal values, culture, and strengths. In my therapeutic work, I engage clients using models known to improve mental wellness while ensuring I incorporate the unique factors that make you who you are. Whether that includes culture, spirituality, gender, sexuality, or neurotype, I am a dynamic clinician able to incorporate the different dimensions of your person for a holistic support experience. Are you ready to start your journey to mental wellness?
My clients often include individuals, couples, and families that are part of diverse communities. I have had great success in working with individuals that experience typical mental health difficulties (e.g., depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, difficulties with life changes, parenting and work stressors) complicated by their unique life experiences (service members, veterans, military families, ethnic, gender, sexual orientation diverse).
In using Acceptance and Commitment (ACT) therapy, I support my clients in acknowledging, allowing, accommodating, and appreciating all of their emotions to support improved life satisfaction.
Attachment-based therapy is a model through which I support parents and their children in improving their relationships. More so, with this model as a framework, I support the individuals' ability to self-determine their values and boundaries. In doing so, clients can learn healthy ways to see themselves and the world.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is an evidenced based model that helps individuals identify unhelpful cycles of thoughts, emotions, and behaviors that lead to anxious and depressed moods. I often use this model with clients who prefer logical practices and that are self-aware. I have had significant success helping clients overcome trauma, anxiety, depression, and relational difficulties using this model.
As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapy, my couples counseling skills include helping individuals with different attachment styles, upbringings, cultural heritage, and other view points identify, develop, and implement the types of relationships they desire.
Dialectical behavior Therapy (DBT) combines mindfulness strategy with behavioral strategies to support clients who struggle with severe or intense negative feelings. In using this model, I am often able to teach clients different mindfulness strategies that support not only self-regulation, but increased tolerance of the stimuli that is initially difficult for them. Once the client has the skills needed to tolerate the distressing stimuli, I help them make choices about their behavior and support them as they make changes that support the way they want to behave and feel.