Ruth Stoan , LPC

Ruth Stoan is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Missouri with 35 years of experience helping people navigate stress, anxiety, grief, relationship concerns, and life changes. She brings extensive work with individuals and couples in private practice, experience in community agencies addressing addictions, and support for families managing aging parents and shifting roles. Her practice includes attention to LGBTQ concerns, intimacy and relationship issues, trauma and abuse, and a wide range of emotional and practical challenges.

Ruth places a special emphasis on supporting women through major life transitions and questions about identity and purpose. Her approach combines practical skill-building with deeper exploration of the patterns that can limit progress. She works collaboratively with clients to create clear goals, strengthen existing strengths, and replace unhelpful habits and thoughts with tools that support meaningful change.

Ruth integrates evidence-informed techniques and holistic tools such as mindfulness, breath work, relaxation, imagery, and work aimed at identifying and shifting blocking beliefs. She values connection and typically uses video sessions to establish rapport, while also offering phone and text options for clients who prefer them. Throughout the process she aims to be an advocate and partner, helping clients move toward the fuller, more successful life they seek.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Support

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people clarify their values and take committed action even when difficult thoughts or feelings arise; it is often useful for anxiety, depression, and life transitions by emphasizing meaningful goals rather than symptom elimination. Client-Centered Therapy focuses on creating a empathic, nonjudgmental space where the client’s experience guides the pace of work - this approach supports self-exploration, increased self-esteem, and better decision making. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) provides practical strategies to identify and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, which can reduce stress, manage anxiety, and improve coping skills.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process and Ruth works collaboratively with each person to determine what fits best based on their needs, goals, and preferences. She draws on different methods as appropriate and partners with clients to develop a plan that feels useful and realistic.

Online therapy offers flexible ways to connect, including video sessions, phone meetings, live chat, and text-based messaging. These options make it easier to schedule sessions around work, caregiving, or travel and allow people to engage in therapy from locations that feel comfortable to them. Ruth integrates these formats to support continuity of care and to meet clients where they are in both life and access.