Arielle Thibodeaux, MSW, LCSW

About Indianapolis Counselor Arielle Thibodeaux

Welcome! I'm Arielle Thibodeaux, MSW, LCSW, the owner of One Step Forward Counseling, INC. I am a US Army Veteran and Certified Brainspotting Therapist.

My philsophy:

My mission is to reduce human suffering. I tend to be laid back, casual and less structured in my approach, than some in the field, but I do lean towards utilizing Brainspotting as my primary treatment model. I use the same skills I teach clients and know I am also a work in progress. We are all equals in the therapy room and you can teach me as much as I teach you. I will also always be honest with you. I can be quite direct, so if this is a style you do not prefer, we may not be a good fit. If you are in a place where you are uncertain or skeptical about therapy, this is ok, but I may not the best fit for you. 

I believe in a holistic approach to healing, which includes lifestyle changes. I encourage clients to make changes in habits such as sleep, hydration, diet, stress and exercise. I will generally request clients get current bloodwork through their PCP, to help rule out underlying health concerns. I prefer to only explore psychotropic medication on as needed basis, after other medical concerns are ruled out by your physician and/or appropriately treated. If seeking psychotropic medications, I will typically recommend GeneSight testing plus working with a psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner. I sometimes will refer people for neuropsychological testing, to rule out other concerns. These changes, coupled with therapy, could result in the changes you're looking for, but are not guaranteed. 

My professional background:

​I earned my Bachelors of Social Work at Southern Illinois University Carbondale and my Masters of Social Work at University of Southern Indiana. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (Indiana License Number: 34007071A and Texas License Number: 68646). I opened One Step Forward Counseling in 2018. I have been practicing for over a decade.
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I am a US Army Veteran. I was deployed in support of Operations Spartan Shield and Inherent Resolve, as a Behavioral Health Officer. I spent time working with Soldiers in Kuwait, Iraq and Jordan. I am also married to a combat Veteran.

​In 2020 I became a Certified Brainspotting Therapist. My trainings and expertise also include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Trauma Focused CBT (TF-CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), ​Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy, Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), Imago Relationship ​​

Therapy Level 1 and The Gottman Method Level 1 & 2. I also completed the Integrative Mental Health Professional training. I also have a plethora of trainings, and lived experience, with neurodiversity. 

I am a Board Member for Youth Connections. I can be heard on Burnt Out Podcast (episode 14) and seen in Triathlete Magazine. 

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One Step Forward Counseling, INC | 317-775-8797 | arielle@onestepforwardcounseling.com | Crisis dial 988