Arianna Iliff, LMFT
I’m Arianna (but please, call me Ari!), and I’m passionate about helping adults with ADHD gain confidence and heal anxiety and trauma.
My clinical training is rooted in understanding relationship dynamics, and over time has grown to incorporate the ways in which relational trauma can affect every area of our lives. For people with ADHD in particular, the pressure of navigating this chronic, lifelong condition is real, affects every day of their lives, and can affect how folks see themselves and engage in their relationships.
When I became a licensed therapist in 2021, I went on to study trauma treatment more deeply. Many people have spoken in detail about their difficult experiences in therapy already, but still notice physical symptoms, intrusive thoughts, mood changes, or a sense of hopelessness about the world and the future. I came to learn that therapy styles like DBT can help support skill building, and Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) can be an absolute game changer for resolving what remains of challenging memories, without having to speak in detail about them. People deserve access to game-changing care.
As a queer neurocomplex individual, I have a deep understanding of how the challenges that executive dysfunction, low motivation, or emotional dysregulation can play out. Folks with ADHD are more susceptible to trauma exposure and PTSD, substance abuse disorders, anxiety, and depression. To my neurodivergent comrades, you are welcome here.
What to expect in session:
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You might have heard that Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) is only for people with serious trauma, but that’s not the case. I’ve successfully used it for anxiety and self-esteem concerns too, and I enjoy being flexible with the model in order to provide EMDR for adults with ADHD too.
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My goal is always to show up authentically, so that you can too. You can yell, cry, and swear in session with me, and sometime I might even join you! Sex, religion, and politics are not taboo things to talk about here either.
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I usually start session with some kind of structured invitation, such as mindfulness exercise or a time-limited reflection on the previous work. I believe some of the best healing can happen in the time between sessions, so I’m always glad to end sessions with ‘missions, should you choose to accept them.’ (My preferred term for ‘therapy homework!’)
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While I am always able to be flexible about topics that come up in session, I've also got a lot of experience with redirecting sessions to address relevant goals, so you know you get the most out of your session time. I view it as a privilege to take time with you to focus on your recovery and growth.
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People deserve effective therapy, so I focus on continuous training in order to improve my skills in my favorite modalities, like DBT and EMDR, especially for folks with ADHD.
A few facts:
Background
From Cincinnati Ohio
M.A in Marriage and Family Therapy/Counseling from University of Akron
Pre-licensed clinical experience in substance use and residential mental health
Earned LMFT in 2021
Selected Trainings
DBT with Katelyn Baxter-Musser 2024
Intensive Trauma Treatment with Arielle Schwartz 2024
EMDR Basic Training with the Center for Excellence in EMDR Therapy 2026
Ongoing consultation on EMDR, IFS, and complex trauma with Paula Merucci 2026
Arianna Iliff, LMFT, is an EMDR-trained therapist specializing in therapy for adults with ADHD who struggle with trauma and anxiety. Sessions are available virtually in Massachusetts.