Ariel Argüeso is a psychotherapist, educator, and consultant. She owns and operates Cultivating Wellness, a Certified Women-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE) based in New York City, and provides psychotherapy to clients across New York State.

Ariel received her Master of Professional Studies (MPS) in Art Therapy and Creativity Development from Pratt Institute. She is a New York State Licensed and Board-Certified Creative Arts Therapist (LCAT, ATR-BC), Art Therapy Credentialed Supervisor (ATCS), Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach (INHC), and Credentialed Family Development Specialist (FDC).

She has over 10 years of professional experience across private practice, community mental health, and organizational leadership settings. Her work has included clinical service delivery in outpatient and community-based mental health programs, including home-based services, as well as leadership roles within multidisciplinary social service systems. In these roles, she has supported children, adolescents, adults, and families impacted by complex trauma, mental health challenges, systemic inequities, substance use, foster care involvement, and loss.

Growing up in a multicultural immigrant family with Lebanese-Armenian and Spanish roots has shaped her understanding of identity, belonging, and intergenerational experience. This perspective continues to inform her clinical work.

Ariel serves as Director of Workforce Development & Internships at a Brooklyn-based social service agency and is part of the senior leadership team. In this role, she leads a creative arts therapy team and oversees clinical internship training, workforce development, and staff wellness initiatives.

Ariel is a Visiting Instructor and faculty member at Pratt Institute, where she teaches professional ethics, clinical supervision, and thesis development within the graduate Creative Arts Therapy program. She contributes to curriculum development and accreditation-related initiatives. Additionally, Ariel is an approved Continuing Education Provider through the Art Therapy Credentials Board (ATCB).

Ariel provides consultation to community-based organizations, nonprofits, and educational settings. Her work focuses on workforce development, staff wellness, clinical program development, and trauma-informed organizational systems building.

Credentials & Professional Background

Credentials
Licensed Creative Arts Therapist (LCAT #002071, New York State)
Board Certified Art Therapist (ATR-BC #17-134, Art Therapy Credentials Board)
Art Therapy Credentialed Supervisor (ATCS #17-134, Art Therapy Credentials Board)

Education
Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, New York, 2015.
MPS, Art Therapy & Creativity Development

Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York, 2013.
BA, Studio Art
BA, Psychology 

Clinical Affiliations and Positions
Visiting Instructor, Graduate Department of Creative Arts Therapy
Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, New York (2021–Present)

Advanced Training
Gottman Method Couples Therapy
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Allies Training Program
Managing and Adapting Practice (MAP) System for Anxiety and Depression

Additional Certifications
Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach (INHC)

Publications
Argüeso, A. (2017). Art and grief: Working with at-risk youth who have lost a parent. In B. MacWilliam (Ed.), Complicated grief, attachment & art therapy: Theory, treatment and 14 ready-to-use protocols (pp. 278-292). Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

Professional Affiliations
Member, American Art Therapy Association (AATA)
Member, New York Art Therapy Association (NYATA)
Approved Continuing Education Provider (ATCB)

Directories
Verified Provider, Open Path Psychotherapy Collective
Verified Provider, Psychology Today