- ACT and CBT
- Mindfulness tools
- Grief and transitions
About Ruth
Ruth Stoan is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Missouri with 35 years of experience. She works with adults facing stress, anxiety, grief, depression, relationship problems, addiction concerns, ADHD, and life changes. Ruth also supports people dealing with intimacy issues, anger, career shifts, caregiver strain, and questions about identity and direction including LGBT concerns.
She trained at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and holds an MA in Counseling. Her background includes private practice work alongside roles in community agencies and facilities. That range means she has helped people through grief and loss, addictions, aging and caregiver stress, and changing family roles.
Ruth uses a mix of practical methods in sessions. She draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT), Client-Centered Therapy, and Existential approaches. She also incorporates mindfulness, breath work, imagery, and other tools to help people notice patterns and try new responses.
In sessions she and the client set concrete goals and develop skills for everyday life. Conversations cover immediate problems and the deeper patterns that may be getting in the way. Ruth describes the work as collaborative coaching and counseling aimed at identifying habits and beliefs that block progress.
She prefers video sessions to build rapport but also offers phone and text contact when that better fits someone’s needs. International clients may be accommodated. To begin, clients complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule a first session.
How her therapeutic approaches translate to online work
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people focus on values and small actions they can take despite difficult thoughts or feelings. It is often used for anxiety, stress, and life transitions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at the link between thoughts, feelings, and behavior and teaches concrete skills to change unhelpful patterns. Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) helps people understand emotional responses in relationships and improve connection and communication.Choosing the right approach is part of the work. Ruth will collaborate with each client to decide which methods to try based on goals, needs, and personal preferences. She blends approaches rather than insisting on a single method so the plan can change as progress is made.
The biography notes a preference for video sessions and also mentions phone and text contact as alternatives. Confirm the current session formats before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy schedule, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and remove travel time. Different formats also let someone choose a quieter setup, reduce bandwidth demands, or use a brief phone session during a work break without committing to in-person visits.
Areas of expertise
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
35+ years
Listed in
Missouri
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she address?
Ruth works with stress, anxiety, grief, depression, relationship and intimacy issues, addictions, ADHD, career and life changes, and related concerns such as codependency and caregiver stress.
How would she approach someone feeling stuck?
She combines practical skills and reflective work, using ACT, CBT, EFT and client-centered ideas alongside mindfulness and breath work to identify patterns and try new behaviors.
How much experience does she have?
She has 35 years of experience working in private practice, community agencies, and facilities with a range of issues including grief, addictions, and caregiver stress.
What are her credentials and location?
She is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Missouri and holds an MA in Counseling from the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
Which languages and international options are supported?
Sessions are offered in English and she accepts international clients.
What session formats are available?
The biography mentions video sessions as preferred and notes phone and text contact as alternatives; confirm current session options before booking.
How are fees handled?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What is the first step to begin working together?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the crisis numbers.