We recently connected with Ariel Richard and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Ariel thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear the story behind how you got your first job in field that you currently practice in.

I wanted to be a medical doctor my entire life – every school project centered around some form of medicine. I even graduated high school one year early, at 16 years old, because I felt that I was ready to start my long journey towards becoming a doctor (and maybe I also wanted some independence!). Because of my age, my mom wouldn’t let me go away to my dream school and I had to remain local which ultimately led to me “settling” for a community college in my area. I thought this was a horrible start to my young adulthood, and yet it ended up being the best thing for me.

I grew up in a small private school that didn’t have the bells and whistles of most public schools. I didn’t have clubs, plays, or other events to test the waters of my creativity and leadership skills. Once I started community college, I was invited to join an international honor society and from there, my involvement on campus skyrocketed. I became a peer mentor, hosted regional retreats in New York for other community colleges, and even spoke at induction ceremonies. I was able to find a passion I never knew I had for leadership, public speaking, and making an impact in ways that didn’t involve medicine.

When I graduated community college in 2019 and went to my 4-year school, I had nearly every prerequisite for medical school. I was hoping to be just as involved for the remainder of my college journey as I was the first two years, but that wasn’t the case. Every door I knocked on was closed and there were no opportunities for me to be involved. After another closed door, I remember walking out of the room and seeing a flyer on the wall for a crisis center looking for volunteers. I thought, “why not?” It was a way to give back, be involved, and make a difference.

What started as a volunteer opportunity became my career. I went from a volunteer, to a part-time counselor and part-time supervisor at this crisis center. I kept telling myself, and others, that I was still pursuing medicine, although there was a seed of doubt in my mind. I realized that my passion was really in healing the unseen wounds, the mental wounds and struggles that we don’t often see. Long story short, I battled myself for quite some time and took a gap year to “study for the MCAT exam.” I picked up my study materials a handful of times! The following year, I applied for my masters in clinical mental health counseling and have not looked back since. I graduated last year and have been working as a permit holder in mental health counseling and am also an assistant director at the same crisis center that changed my life for the better.

I am forever grateful for those closed doors and missed opportunities, because they led me to my purpose.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I wear many hats! I’m a therapist, crisis counselor, entrepreneur, content creator, and someone deeply passionate about helping others reconnect with who they are.

I’ve always known I wanted to help people, but for a long time, I thought that path meant becoming a doctor. I graduated high school early and went to college with that dream in mind. But everything shifted when I began volunteering at a local crisis center. That experience opened my eyes to the mental and emotional pain so many people carry silently — and how powerful it can be just to feel seen and supported.

Today, I wear a few different hats. I’m a pre-licensed therapist working in private practice, where I primarily support young adults navigating life transitions, religious trauma, anxiety, identity confusion, and relationship struggles. I also work as an Assistant Director at a crisis center, leading operations, training, and suicide safety for our team of counselors.

Outside of therapy, I create content, products/services, and community that bridges mental health, personal growth, and spirituality. What sets my work apart is the integration of faith and mental health in a way that’s compassionate, honest, and free from fear-based teachings. I help people who are deconstructing harmful religious beliefs or untangling spiritual shame rebuild their faith or worldview from a place of freedom, curiosity, and grace.

I’m most proud of the transformation I’ve seen in my clients and community — not just in how they heal, but in how they begin to live: more boldly, more freely, and more intentionally. I’ve overcome my own fears of pivoting careers, letting go of who I thought I “should” be, and finding my voice — and now I use that journey to help others do the same.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

When I was a part time counselor at the crisis center, I had applied for the shift supervisor position. Shortly after, I had two instances of falling asleep during my shift. I was told that while I was a strong candidate for the role, ultimately I would be reconsidered in the future due to reliability.

At this stage in my life, I was a full time student, working part time at two different jobs. My schedule was packed and I thought that I could do it all. But doing it all, doesn’t mean doing it all well.

Naturally, I was disappointed in myself for ruining my chance at this promotion. I hunkered down and prioritized the things in my life that were important and emphasized the importance of getting quality sleep before an overnight shift. Many others may have not tried again due to not receiving the promotion. Instead, I was resilient and fought for what I wanted. Within a few months, I demonstrated that I was reliable and was able to obtain that promotion. I’m beyond grateful for a work environment where mistakes aren’t held against you!

Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?

Embracing who you are as an individual and letting your personality shine through in your work. During grad school, I was given feedback on swiveling in a chair or taught that we need to be professional above all else. That disclosing any aspect of our lives were frowned upon and guidance along those lines. But that wasn’t the type of therapist I wanted to be.

I remember feeling so stoic and on edge when I first began my practicum and internship experience as a therapist. It took me some time, but once I was able to loosen up and be myself in session, my rapport with client skyrocketed. I received an email from a former client of mine expressing that they appreciated our time together and I was like a professional friend. That I balanced professionalism with being human, and they were grateful for that.

This can be applied in a myriad of work environments, and especially in this field. As a business owner, content creator, and clinician – I hope that I never lose sight of my personality and continue to infuse that into every part of what I do.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://arielyasmine.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arielyasminee/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arielrichard/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@arielyasminee