Ruth Stoan

Ruth Stoan is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) with 35 years of clinical experience. She encourages people who have already taken the first step by reaching out, and she focuses on helping them move past self-limiting habits and thought patterns. Ruth emphasizes practical progress and partners with clients to set clear goals for change.

She has a Master of Arts in Counseling from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Over her career she has worked in private practice, community agencies, and care settings. That experience includes supporting people facing addiction, grief and loss, relationship concerns, stress, anxiety, and life transitions.

Ruth uses a mix of approaches tailored to each person. She draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Emotionally-Focused and Client-Centered methods, and existential ideas. She also uses mindfulness, breath work, relaxation, imagery, and tools aimed at shifting blocking beliefs.

A particular interest is helping women navigate major life changes and questions about identity and purpose. Ruth helps clients address both immediate problems and deeper patterns that get in the way of progress. Sessions focus on skill building and practical steps toward a more meaningful life.

Ruth prefers video sessions to build rapport but also offers phone and text options when those feel better for a client. She checks messages frequently and schedules during weekdays, some evenings, and by request on Saturdays.

How certain approaches work well online

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people clarify what matters and take action in line with those values. It often uses simple exercises and mindfulness practices to reduce avoidance and increase meaningful behavior. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on spotting unhelpful thoughts and testing them with practical behavioral tasks. It is useful for anxiety, depression, and anger because it breaks problems into clear steps.

Finding the right approach is collaborative. The therapist will talk with clients about their needs, goals, and preferences and try different methods to see what fits best. That process can involve short goal-oriented work or a longer exploration of deeper patterns, depending on what the person wants.

Ruth prefers video sessions to help build rapport, and she notes phone and text options are available when more comfortable. Confirm the current session options before booking so they match your needs. Online sessions can make scheduling easier, let people fit appointments into a busy day, and allow shorter check-ins or regular weekly sessions without travel. They can also reduce time away from work or caregiving duties while keeping therapy consistent.