Ruth Stoan , LPC

Ruth Stoan greets each person she works with as someone who has already taken an important step toward change by reaching out for support. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) - a state-licensed mental health professional - and a certified coach who helps individuals and couples navigate relationship challenges, grief and loss, stress, anxiety, life transitions, and a wide range of other concerns.

Her background includes work in private practice, community agencies addressing addictions, and facilities assisting families facing shifting roles and aging parents. She places particular emphasis on supporting women through major life changes and the personal questions that arise when people reexamine who they are and what they want.

Stoan holds a Master of Arts in Counseling from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and has training in multiple therapeutic approaches. She incorporates practical, holistic tools such as mindfulness, breath work, relaxation techniques, theta healing, imagery, and work to identify and clear limiting beliefs. These tools are used alongside traditional therapy methods to build skills and accelerate progress toward client goals.

In sessions she balances attention to immediate concerns with exploration of deeper patterns that may limit growth, collaborating with clients to create a plan that fits their needs. She often uses video sessions to facilitate connection but is also available by phone and text. She offers weekday appointments, some evening times, and Saturday sessions by request, and she checks messages frequently.

More about her work can be found on her Facebook page Opening Choices at https://www.facebook.com/Opening-Choices-2216183171967672.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care for Life Changes

Ruth Stoan draws from several evidence-informed approaches to tailor care to each person. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice difficult thoughts and feelings without being controlled by them and focuses on identifying personal values to guide meaningful action - it is often useful for stress, anxiety, and navigating life transitions. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes empathy, nonjudgmental listening, and collaboration so clients can explore their own solutions and build self-understanding - this approach supports work on identity, self-esteem, and relationship concerns. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) involves identifying unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns and learning practical skills to change them - it is commonly used for anxiety, depression, and coping skills development.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Ruth works collaboratively with clients to determine which methods fit their goals, preferences, and the issues they bring, adjusting techniques over time as needs change. This collaborative stance helps create a plan that feels workable and relevant.

Online therapy options include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, offering flexibility for busy schedules and differing comfort levels. These formats make it easier to access licensed professionals from home or while traveling, accommodate varied routines, and allow continuity of care when in-person visits are not possible.