We had the good fortune of connecting with Ibbie Aromolaran and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ibbie, what’s one piece of conventional advice that you disagree with?
One piece of conventional advice I disagree with is the idea that “true love will find you” or that there’s a single ‘one’ for everyone. While I believe in the power of love and connection, this notion can be limiting. It suggests that we should wait passively for love to happen rather than actively seeking relationships and investing in them. In reality, I think that pretty much anyone can be ‘the one’ if there’s mutual investment and compatibility. Building a strong relationship is about how both partners communicate, support each other, and grow together. Love is often about effort and shared values, rather than simply fate or destiny.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I find genuine joy in what I do, and I actually get excited to wake up every day to support others on their healing journey toward securing happy, healthy love. My professional journey began in my early 20s while working in a bar. I noticed that many people—coworkers and patrons alike—were navigating similar struggles in their dating and relational lives. They would share their stories of love and heartbreak with me, and I found fulfillment in simply listening, providing validation and support. I was genuinely interested in understanding the common themes behind their experiences.

Over time, I would often hear, “You should be a therapist. The way you hold space for us without judgment is a gift.” I had never considered it that way until those comments sparked something in me. That, coupled with my commitment to understanding the underlying causes of relational distress, led me to pursue a degree in clinical mental health counseling and a certification in relationship coaching. From there, everything took off. I started sharing insights on social media, and people began reaching out for calls, which eventually turned them into clients.

Of course, the journey wasn’t easy. As my work grew, I began to see it on a larger scale, and with that came the business side of things, which wasn’t always enjoyable. I struggled with sales calls, sliding in people’s DM’s, and the “discovery calls” that many online coaches promote. It felt inauthentic to me, and I missed the genuine connections I had made when I first started. I invested a lot of time and money into advice from business coaches, but it often felt overwhelming and led me in circles. After some time, I took a hiatus, focusing on my 9-5 as a clinical mental health therapist while working toward my PhD.

Now, having revamped my approach, I’m back to doing things on my own terms. I work full time for myself now. I’ve found my rhythm and am truly enjoying the process again. I recently published my book titled “Tales of a Situationship” and I’m excited to share that with the world, in addition to some other projects I’m working on. One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned along the way is that while it’s okay to listen to those who are where you want to be in life, it’s extremely important to stay true to what feels authentic for you. Alignment is everything to me; if something doesn’t feel aligned, I’m out of there.

I want the world to know that this is my passion and my calling. Helping people recognize their worth and gain the tools to secure happy, healthy relationships—with themselves and others—is what drives me. I believe everyone can have healthy relationships, and I want to equip as many people as possible with the tools, knowledge, and healing resources to make that happen. My heart beats for women, especially, and I want to see us all win in love.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
A week-long visit would be awesome. It’d give us so much time to fit a lot of things in! We’d kick off the visit by diving into our foodie adventures. I have a long list of restaurants in my Notes app categorized by breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner, so we’d make a game out of it: each day, we’d write our top picks on slips of paper, toss them in a hat, and draw one to see where we’d eat. This way, we’d get to explore all the culinary gems I’ve been wanting to try.

One of our first days would include a stroll and picnic at Piedmont Park, where we could soak in the sun and enjoy the views. Afterward, we’d head to the High Museum of Art to immerse ourselves in some culture. Another day would be dedicated to exploring the Atlanta BeltLine, stopping by Ponce City Market for some fun activities on the rooftop and some great food options. On some of the days, we’d find a cool coffee shop like The Reading Room in Decatur to hang out and get some work done.

For some adventure, we could check out places like Your 3rd Spot or Beat The Bomb, where we can unleash our competitive spirits. On weekends, I love hitting up farmers’ markets or markets featuring women-owned businesses, like the Women’s Makers Market hosted by Gurl2Girl. If there’s a game or concert happening, we’ll make our way there as well.

We’d also venture out to Braselton to visit Chateau Elan for a wine tasting, high tea, and leisurely afternoon. And of course, we’d set aside time to just chill and enjoy each other’s company, whether that’s watching a movie or playing games at home, specifically a conversation card game I created, titled “Sick of Situationship: Conversation Starters for Reflection on Crappy Relationships”. It involves really insightful and funny questions to ask your friends about what they saw in their last relationship. Ultimately, it’s all about connecting and creating amazing memories together while discovering the best of what the area has to offer!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d love to dedicate my shoutout to my family and friends, as well as my clients. My family has always provided support and encouragement, and my friends have been a constant source of inspiration and collaboration. Additionally, my clients inspire me every day. Their stories and challenges drive me to create materials and content that genuinely help and support others. Together, this fuels my work and keeps me focused on making a positive impact.

Website: https://www.auroraloverelationships.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sickofsituationship/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ibbie-a-14212719b

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/auroralovecounseling

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sickofsituationship

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutAtlanta is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.