Ruth Stoan , LPC

Ruth Stoan is a licensed counselor and certified coach who brings 35 years of clinical experience to her work with individuals, couples, and families. She holds a Master of Arts in Counseling from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and is credentialed as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), which denotes professional training and state licensure to provide mental health services. Her background spans private practice, community agencies, and facility-based work supporting families facing changing roles and aging parents.

Her clinical focus includes stress, anxiety, grief, depression, relationship challenges, addictions, trauma and abuse, LGBT issues, and many intimacy-related and life transition concerns. A special area of interest is supporting women as they move through major life changes and explore questions about identity and future direction. In practice she addresses both immediate concerns and the deeper patterns that can limit progress, working collaboratively to build skills and a plan for more meaningful, valued living.

Ruth integrates a range of therapeutic methods and holistic tools, including mindfulness, breath work, relaxation techniques, imagery, theta healing, and work to identify and clear limiting beliefs. She combines Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, client-centered principles, and cognitive behavioral ideas to help clients tap and strengthen their existing resources. Ruth has used video sessions as well as phone and text communication in her work, adapting methods to fit individual needs and preferences.

Her approach emphasizes empowerment, practical skill building, and compassionate support aimed at helping people move beyond old habits and thought patterns toward lasting change.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Support

Ruth integrates Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, which helps people clarify their values, accept difficult emotions, and take committed action toward a meaningful life. This approach can be useful for stress, anxiety, and life transitions where shifting perspective and building purposeful habits matter.

She also draws on client-centered therapy, an approach that emphasizes empathy, listening, and collaboration. In this style the therapist creates a respectful, nonjudgmental space so clients can explore their concerns and discover their own solutions, which is helpful for relationship issues, self esteem, and grief.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is another core element of her work, focusing on identifying unhelpful thoughts and behaviors and developing practical skills to change them. CBT is often applied to depression, anxiety, and coping with life changes.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process; Ruth works collaboratively with each person to identify which methods best fit their goals, needs, and preferences. She tailors interventions and tools rather than relying on a single model.

Online therapy options include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, which offer flexibility for scheduling and access across distances. These formats allow licensed professionals to provide ongoing support, skill building, and focused work while adapting to each client's comfort and lifestyle.