Ruth Stoan

Ruth Stoan is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) who brings 35 years of clinical experience to her work. She approaches counseling as a collaborative process and helps people facing grief, major life changes, relationship strain, stress, anxiety, and issues related to identity. Ruth uses straightforward feedback and practical tools to help clients make gradual, lasting changes.

Ruth holds a Master of Arts in Counseling from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Over decades of practice she has worked in private practice, community agencies, and care facilities. That background includes helping people with addictions, caregiver stress, and the shifting roles that come with aging or end-of-life situations.

Her work often blends talk therapy with mindfulness, breath work, guided imagery, and other holistic tools to support skill-building. Sessions focus on identifying current obstacles and learning concrete ways to respond differently in everyday moments. She also integrates coaching-style goal work when clients want a clear action plan.

Ruth often uses video so people can feel more connected, and she can also meet by phone or text when that fits a client’s needs. She typically works weekdays, offers some evening times, and may schedule by request on Saturday.

People seeking help with grief, coping, relationship issues, caregiver burden, hospice and end-of-life concerns, or identity questions may find her approach practical and steady. The first step is a short matching questionnaire and scheduling a session to talk about goals and next steps.

Therapeutic approaches that translate to online work

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice difficult thoughts and feelings without getting stuck in them, then choose actions that match their values. It can be useful for anxiety, depression, grief and life transitions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on the links between thoughts, feelings and behavior and teaches concrete skills to reduce distress and change patterns that get in the way of daily functioning. It often helps with stress, anxiety, mood and coping with change. Client-Centered Therapy prioritizes a respectful, empathetic relationship so people feel heard and can explore who they are and what they want. This approach supports identity questions, self-esteem work and decisions about life direction.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Ruth will talk with each person about their goals, history and preferences and then recommend what to try first. The plan can be adjusted as therapy progresses so methods stay relevant to the client's needs.

Practical benefits of online therapy include fitting sessions into a busy day, keeping regular appointments during caregiving or work commitments, and using video or phone to stay connected when in-person visits are difficult. The therapist's biography notes she often uses video sessions and can also be available by phone or text, but readers should confirm current options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to continue steady work on grief, caregiver stress, relationship concerns and other issues without adding travel time.