4251 Kipling St, Suite 430, Wheat Ridge, CO 80033
TEXT (720) 381-4977
Meet Ariella
HI, I'm Ariella, AND I'm SO GLAD YOU'RE HERE!
Ariella Hubbard | MA, LPC
(She/Her/Hers)
Owner, Licensed Professional Counselor
ADHD-CCSP (Certified Clinical Services Provider)
Gestalt Equine-Assisted Psychotherapist
I started WILD Essence Therapy because I didn’t want to practice in a system that pathologizes people for being overwhelmed by a world that refuses to slow down, acknowledge different neurotypes, and still somehow exists in accordance with capitalism and patriarchal structures. I wanted to create a space where we don’t have to shrink to be supported—where authenticity in all of it's forms is welcome.
The traditional therapy model often felt too sterile, too disconnected from the land, the body, and the sacred rhythms we carry.
WILD Essence grew from a deep desire to offer something different: an undomesticated, relational, neurodivergent-affirming approach rooted in right relationship—with ourselves, with each other, and with the world around us.
My Heroine's journey
I wasn’t diagnosed with AuDHD until adulthood, and like many neurodivergent women, I spent years believing something was intrinsically wrong with me—that my exhaustion, sensitivity, and overwhelm were personal failures, not survival responses.
I grew up in poverty—one of seven kids living on a converted school bus before #buslife was cool. We moved constantly, never staying anywhere for long until I was 11. I was bullied, overstimulated, and expected to adapt to chaos without question.
At school, I was fortunate that I had adults that saw me and nurtured my strengths. My peers were brutal. At home, no one recognized what I was carrying, because everyone around me was neurodivergent in their own way. I didn’t stand out. I just disappeared into the dysfunction.
After a series of events, including a near-death experience and a broken back, I finally graduated from my Master's program and felt like I was finally 'making it' after such a rough go, only to be thrown into the depths of debilitating grief. I lost my older brother in a tragic car accident and I descended into a full-on burnout.
Grief and burnout stripped away the last of my coping strategies. But inside that unraveling, something sacred happened. I started remembering what I had always known. I started seeking confirmation—and when the confirmation of AuDHD finally came, it didn’t feel like a label. It felt like coming home.
The picture on the right is my brother and I ♥ ♥ ♥
A Rite of Passage
The seasons of grief, burnout, confirmation, relief, and the slow rebuilding that followed gave rise to a rite of passage. I was invited to let go of the roles and reflexes I had developed to survive, and begin uncovering who I actually am beneath them—without performance, without apology.
The photo to the left is three-year-old me—my little inner warrior. She carried my aliveness, creativity, curiosity and joy for safekeeping until I was ready to integrate them again. These days, she spends her time in her secret garden, and she is giddy when I visit—when I slow down and listen. She reminds me: I’ve always known the way home.
What you can expect in our work together
My own healing didn’t begin with a diagnosis—it began with safety. True, consistent, relational safety. The kind that says: you don’t have to perform to be worthy of care. That’s what I offer in this work—a space where your nervous system can begin to exhale, where all parts of you are welcome, and where we move at the pace of trust.
Unmasking isn’t about becoming someone new—it’s about remembering who you’ve been beneath the survival strategies. I know what it’s like to hold it all together while quietly falling apart. I also know the power of being met, seen, and gently called in when old patterns no longer serve.
I believe healing happens through real relationship, not just reflection. I show up with warmth, humor, grounded honesty, and deep respect. My practice is collaborative, neurodivergent-affirming, and non-pathologizing. Whether you're navigating burnout, grief, late diagnosis, masking fatigue, RSD, PDA, sensory overload, or relational overwhelm—I’m here to meet you in the complexity, not to fix you.
Together, we’ll explore what regulation, authenticity, and connection can look like on your terms. Healing here isn’t about striving—it’s about unlearning, remembering, and choosing what’s true for you.
Depending on what feels most supportive and accessible for you, we can either meet outside on walking trails or find a cozy spot along the creek, we can meet in the office for more containment, or we can meet virtually.
When I'm not in the office...
You’ll usually find me engaging in my special interests which include playing music, doing ceramics, reading and listening to podcasts, writing, and working on my book. I enjoy wandering trails with my pups, or embodying a potato with my cats while watching things like Schitt's Creek or reality tv (It's just so fascinating!).
I treasure slow mornings, deep talks, and quiet joy with my husband. Life feels a bit more mellow these days as I tend to my nervous system post-burnout—but I still occasionally return to the things I used to crave regularly: mountain biking, backpacking, trail running, rock climbing, and meaningful time with friends and loved ones.
I’m learning to move at a pace that honors capacity, and to find joy in the small, steady things that help me feel most like myself.
Meet Ziggy & Ami
Ziggy (left) is our beloved pandemic rescue pup—a moody, loyal, and incredibly smart 5-year-old Borderbeagle. He adores his humans, enjoys long sniffaris, fetch, hide and seek, and snuggling on the couch. He also loves his younger sister, though he appreciates his space. Ziggy sometimes struggles with other dogs (especially small ones), but he’s made so much progress in calmly passing them on walks—and we’re really proud of him.
Ami is in her full velociraptor phase. She’s all energy, sass, and Aussie smarts—keeping us on our toes daily. We adopted her at 10 weeks old after she and her littermates lost their mom at just 8 days old. In a beautiful synchronicity, we learned on the day we chose her that she was born on the same date my brother passed away—October 14th—making her presence even more meaningful.
Ami is sweet, whip-smart, and doing great with her training—learning to heel, settle, and follow commands. She still barks at people and other dogs now and then, but she’s building confidence every day.
When she’s a bit older, Ami will begin training to become a therapy dog and may join us in the office to help hold space for whatever you bring. Ziggy, too, is mellowing with age, and if it feels right, he may step into that role as well. For now, you might see them pop up occasionally on video calls—holding down the emotional support job from home.
Meet Cinder & Gus
Cinder (Left) and Gus (Right) are brother and sister and they will be turning 8 years old this year. They are super sweet, vocal, and love to snuggle up with us on the couch or when we're doing something important...
Gus loves to make an appearance during virtual sessions, often jumping on my lap or walking in front of the screen and showing you his butt.
Cinder likes to burrow into blankets and leave a paw sticking out so you know not to sit on her or disrupt her naps. She rarely comes to say hi during virtual sessions, but it has happened, and I'm always happy to introduce you to the furbabies if you want them to be a part of your journey!