Insurance plan Ariel can accepted:
Aetna BlueCross and BlueShield Carelon: MBHP, Wellsense BMC, Unicare, Fallon, GIC-Unicare Commonwealth Care Alliance
Health New England MassHealth Standard Medicare
Optum: Allways, VACCN, UnitedHealthcare, Health Plans Inc, Oxford, UMR, Mass General Brigham Tufts Commercial Tricare East: Humana Out-of-Pocket/Self-Paid

Location: Amherst, Hybrid

Ariel Pliskin, MSW, LICSW (they/them), is a neurodivergent psychotherapist and educator who works with individuals and couples around relationships, sexuality, and identity. Ariel is a Certified Sex Therapist (CST) and Certified Sex Educator (CSE) through the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT).

In their couples work, Ariel uses the Gottman Method, an evidence-based approach grounded in decades of research on what helps relationships thrive. The Gottman Method focuses on strengthening friendship and intimacy, improving communication, managing conflict with care, and building shared meaning over time. Sessions are practical and skills-based: partners learn tools together in session and, when helpful, practice them between sessions.

Ariel has completed Levels 1, 2, and the Level 3 Practicum in Gottman Method Couples Therapy and integrates Gottman assessment and interventions into their clinical work. They are currently pursuing full Gottman certification. As part of this process, Ariel typically begins couples therapy with a structured Gottman assessment and may invite some couples to optionally consent to video recording select sessions for professional consultation and certification review. Recording is always voluntary, discussed in advance, and handled through HIPAA-compliant platforms.

Ariel brings a neurodiversity-affirming, sex-positive, and socially informed lens to therapy, with particular experience supporting LGBTQIA+ clients, consensual non-monogamy, and diverse relational structures. In addition to clinical practice, Ariel collaborates with other professionals on training, consultation, and program development, and has facilitated groups focused on out-of-control sexual behavior and neurodivergent sexuality.

For a fuller overview of Ariel’s couples therapy approach—including the Gottman assessment process and what to expect in early sessions—see Couples Therapy with the Gottman Method.

Curriculum Vitae

Past Groups

• Building skills for the present moment:Trauma-informed and Neurodivergent-Friendly Mindfulness

• Sexual Health Therapy group for men and masc-identified people