Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Arielle Jordan.
Hi Dr. Arielle, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I grew up figuring things out early. I graduated high school at 16 and kept moving between college, the Army, and motherhood. I didn’t have a roadmap. I knew I wanted to serve, lead, and make my life count for something.
Then my daughter Jordyn was born with a rare heart condition. Losing her changed me in every possible way. I had to learn how to breathe again, how to grieve, and how to keep going without going numb.
That journey brought me into the world of trauma healing. I earned four degrees: an associate’s, a bachelor’s, a master’s, and eventually a PhD. I became a licensed trauma therapist and started my practice, Mindset Quality, to help others who carry heavy stories too — veterans, first responders, and purpose-driven people who are strong for everyone else but have never had a space to fall apart and be held.
My work now is about helping people heal in ways that don’t make them smaller, but stronger. Not polished, but whole. Because healing is not a sign you’ve failed or you’re broken, it is proof you are still fighting for yourself.
And that kind of strength is sacred.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Definitely not a smooth road.
I grew up with an alcoholic stepdad, so I learned early how to stay alert, stay busy, and take care of everybody else. That kind of survival stuck with me. Then later in the Army Reserves, I dealt with racism that was brushed off or buried. You learn to keep pushing, even when it chips away at you.
I lost my daughter Jordyn when she was 18 months old. That changed everything. Then I lost my dad not long after. I went through divorce. I was still in school, still working, still trying to show up for everybody. But inside, I was carrying so much.
I didn’t have a big safety net or financial cushion. I used my GI Bill, moved between schools, and eventually earned four degrees. I built my private practice with no loans and no help, just a lot of late nights, faith, and figuring it out as I went.
So no, it wasn’t smooth. But every piece of it shaped how I work now. I don’t just understand trauma. I’ve lived it, published books about it. And I know what it means to heal while still getting things done.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a licensed trauma therapist, speaker, and founder of Mindset Quality. I specialize in EMDR therapy, especially for veterans, first responders, and service-driven people who are used to carrying a lot without much space to unload.
A lot of my work focuses on PTSD, suicide prevention, trauma, grief, and post-traumatic growth. I offer individual therapy, intensives, group work, and retreats. I’m also a clinical partner with the Headstrong Project, which provides therapy for veterans at no cost. I’ve created signature frameworks, such as READY, which blends resilience, emotional intelligence, and trauma-informed leadership. People bring me in to speak and train on how healing and leadership go hand in hand.
What I’m most proud of is that I’ve built all of this from lived experience. I don’t just teach it, I’ve lived it. Every space I create is built to be honest, grounded, and human. You don’t have to perform your pain. You get to be real, and you get to heal.
What sets me apart is that I know how to hold both the strength and the struggle. I know what it’s like to lead while grieving, to build while healing, and to show up even when it’s hard. That’s what I bring into the room. And people feel it.
What were you like growing up?
I was quiet, observant, and always paying attention to the things people didn’t say. I learned early how to read a room, how to stay ready, and how to carry more than most kids should have to. But even with all that, I had a big imagination.
I loved creating. I’d write poems, sketch, and journal before I even knew what journaling was. And I loved my Lite-Brite. That thing lit up more than just the room it gave me a little sense of control and creativity in a world that didn’t always feel safe or calm. I’d sit for hours making little pictures out of those tiny colored pegs like it was therapy.
I liked things to be in order. I followed the rules, but I also asked a lot of questions. I wasn’t loud, but I had thoughts, and when I did speak, it mattered.
Looking back, I think I was always trying to make sense of the world and find beauty in the small things. That hasn’t changed much.
Pricing:
- EMDR Intensives (1-on-1 trauma healing sessions) • Half-day (3 hours): $1,997
- Speaking, Training, and Retreat Facilitation • Custom rates based on length, format, and audience • Topics include trauma-informed leadership, post-traumatic growth, and mental wellness for high-stress communities
- Private Therapy (Virtual, MD & VA residents) • Headstrong clients: Covered (no cost to veteran) • Insurance and private pay options available
Contact Info:
- Website: bio.ariellenjordan.com
