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RS Portrait of Ruth Stoan

Ruth Stoan

Experienced counselor guiding practical change

LPC Missouri

Experience
35 years in practice
Focus areas
Stress, Anxiety, Grief, Self esteem
Approaches
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Languages
English

About Ruth

Ruth Stoan is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) with 35 years of clinical experience based in Missouri. She brings long-standing work with people navigating stress, anxiety, grief, depression, relationship challenges, addictions, and life transitions.

Background and approach

Ruth also focuses on areas such as intimacy and communication difficulties, codependency and commitment concerns, caregiver stress, and issues related to identity and self-esteem. Her practice blends cognitive behavioral techniques with acceptance and commitment strategies, emotionally focused work, and client-centered principles to help clients build practical skills and clearer life direction.

Ruth emphasizes collaboration, using mindfulness, breath work, imagery, and other holistic tools to support change and reduce patterns that get in the way of personal goals. She has worked across independent practice, community agencies, and family-support settings, which informs a flexible, pragmatic approach to treatment.

Clients are invited to work at a pace that fits their needs while identifying both immediate concerns and deeper patterns that limit progress. Ruth aims to empower people to strengthen existing resources, develop new coping skills, and create meaningful, sustainable change in daily life.

Online Therapeutic Approaches and How They Help



Ruth integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) into her online work, which focuses on identifying unhelpful thinking patterns and developing practical skills to manage symptoms like anxiety, depression, and stress. She also uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) techniques that encourage acceptance of difficult emotions while helping clients clarify values and take committed steps toward a meaningful life. Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) informs her work with relationship and intimacy issues by helping people explore emotions and strengthen emotional connections.

Choosing the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Ruth collaborates with clients to determine which methods best match their goals, preferences, and presenting concerns, and she adapts strategies as progress unfolds so the plan reflects each person's needs.

Online sessions are available by video calls, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging, providing flexibility for scheduling and communication style. These options make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life and to continue care when in-person meetings are not possible, while allowing licensed professionals to offer focused, skill-based work across different formats.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does Ruth commonly address?
She works with a broad range of issues including stress, anxiety, grief, depression, relationship and intimacy issues, addictions, self-esteem, and coping with life changes, plus many related areas such as caregiver stress and family of origin concerns.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her approach is collaborative and skill-oriented, mixing cognitive behavioral techniques with acceptance and commitment methods, emotionally-focused work, and client-centered care to help clients develop practical coping strategies.
What is her professional background and experience?
Ruth has practiced for 35 years in independent practice, community agencies, and family-support settings, bringing experience with grief and loss, addictions, relationship work, and caregiving issues.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She holds the LPC credential with license number MO LPC 000702 and practices from Missouri.
Does she offer services in multiple languages or work with international clients?
Sessions are provided in English, and she does accept international clients.
Which session formats are available?
Ruth offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to accommodate different communication preferences.
How is payment handled and what does therapy cost?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions are provided through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What are the first steps to begin working with her?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and then schedule according to the therapist's availability.

Areas of expertise

Also works with

AddictionsLGBTRelationship issuesTrauma and abuseIntimacy-related issuesAnger managementCareer difficultiesCoachingCompassion fatigueADHD

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAging and geriatric issuesBody imageCaregiver issues and stressCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesDissociationDivorce and separationEmptinessFamily of origin issuesForgivenessGuilt and shameHospice and end-of-life counselingIsolation / lonelinessJealousyLife purposeMidlife crisisMoney and financial issuesMood disordersPolyamory / non-monogamous relationshipsPost-traumatic stressSelf-loveSmoking / vaping cessationWomen's issuesWorkplace issues

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)Existential TherapyMindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingNarrative TherapySolution-Focused TherapySomatic TherapyInternal Family Systems

Experience

35+ years

Licensed

Missouri

Languages

English