Licensed to practice in 3 states and accepts 45 insurances. Specializes in Anxiety, Depression, Trauma and PTSD and 10 more.
Dr. Nikki R Ruffin
(she/her)
Hi, my name is Dr. Nikki Ruffin. I am a licensed clinical professional counselor in the state of Illinois a licensed professional clinical counselor in the state of California and a licensed mental health counselor in the state of Indiana. I have my doctorate in Counseling and Education and I've been in practice for about 20 years. I work mostly with adults with anxiety, depression, grief, and loss and trauma, as well as life transitions and relationship issues.
Get to know me
In our first session together, here's what you can expect
Client can expect in the first session to be given an overview of the issues that have led to them reaching out for therapy including family history, mental health history, school and career related issues, spirituality and medical issues and being able to come up with. treatment goals and helping to discuss how to develop the skills to cope with the situation(s) they are going through as well as finding some strategies to solve some issues that they might be currently having.
The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions
I have worked with many different individuals of different cultural, race, religious backgrounds, socio-economic statuses, and different transitions in their lives. I've worked in a variety of settings like hospital, outpatient settings, college and university settings, correctional settings and community health as well as veterans affairs. Also, I am a teacher so I am an advocate for helping clients learn all about themselves, and looking at the past and present to help them develop a sound and stable future.
The clients I'm best positioned to serve
Primarily work with teenagers and adults who are going through momentarily difficult times, especially with transitions with life changes, relationship issues, grief and loss, stress, anxiety, and depression that is impacting their daily functioning.
Specialties
Top specialties
Anxiety
Depression
Trauma and PTSD
Other specialties
Addiction
Anger Management
Coping Skills
Grief
Life Transitions
Military/Veterans
Mood Disorders
Self Esteem
Spirituality
Substance Misuse
I identify as
Black / African American
Woman
Serves ages
Adults (18 to 64)
Licensed in
California
Illinois
Indiana
Accepts
Aetna
Aetna - ASR Health Benefits
Aetna - Allied Benefits
Aetna - Luminare
Aetna - Medicare
Aetna - Moda
Aetna - WebTPA
Aetna – HealthEZ
All Savers
Ambetter Health
Amerihealth Administrators
Arlo
AvMed
Blue Cross Blue Shield
Anthem
Independence Blue Cross
Independence Administrators
Blue Shield
Blue Shield of California - Medicare
Independence Personal Choice 65 PPO
Independence Keystone 65 HMO
Centivo
Cigna
Cigna - HealthEZ
Evernorth
GTEB
Golden Rule
Harvard Pilgrim/UnitedHealthcare
Humana - Medicare
Humana Dual (Medicare & Medicaid)
UnitedHealthcare/Optum
Optum
OptumHealth Complex Medical Conditions
Oscar
Oxford
Surest (formerly Bind)
Tufts Health/Cigna
UMR - Advocate Aurora Health
United Medical Resources
UnitedHealthcare Dual (Medicare & Medicaid)
UnitedHealthcare Life Insurance
UnitedHealthcare Shared Services
UnitedHealthcare StudentResources
UnitedHealthcare/Optum - Medicare
UnitedHealthcare Complete Care (C-SNP)
Location
Virtual
My treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
CBT is a type of psychotherapy that combines cognitive therapy and behavioral therapy to help people manage their problems by changing how they think and behave. CBT is based on the idea that thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are linked and can affect a person's quality of life. CBT sessions typically involve: getting an understanding of automatic negative thoughts and how they can lead to certain feelings and behaviors and being able to challenge and reframe thoughts to improve emotional and mental health as well actions to difficulties life can throw at us.
Cognitive Processing (CPT)
CPT is a type of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) that helps people process thoughts and feelings about trauma to reduce its impact on their lives. CPT is often used to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and related conditions, and has been effective in reducing symptoms of PTSD that have developed after experiencing a variety of traumatic events. I use this in practice for people that have undergone significant childhood trauma, or adult trauma relation to physical, psychological and sexual abuse as well as other event that could have impacted their lives significantly.
Supportive
Supportive psychotherapy is a type of therapy that primarily focuses on providing emotional support, encouragement, and validation during difficult life circumstances or psychological challenges. You will be encouraged to talk about your feelings, concerns, and problems in a safe, nonjudgmental environment. Supportive therapy is the basis for all therapy is included in any therapeutic sessions I have with individuals.
Psychodynamic
Through a psychodynamic therapy approach I help individuals gain a self-awareness and understanding of the influence of their past on present circumstances, and enables individuals to explore unresolved conflicts and symptoms that arise from past dysfunctional relationships and manifest themselves in current issues going in their lives.
Psychoeducation
Knowledge is power. Psycho-education provides information and support to better understand and cope with symptoms, becoming more aware of self and and how to cope with life's challenges.
2 ratings with written reviews
June 27, 2026
I’m constantly feeling frustrated and stressed overwhelmed and tired going through difficult times and things in my mind and life . Dr. Ruffin she is truly a blessing she really listens to me . Even if I’m rambling She really hears what I’m saying and I feel like she understands me she encourages me she helps me to cope and deal with the things I struggle with She is direct but it not in a brutally honest, hurtful way She is truly helpful I come out of every session feeling motivated &better
Verified client, age 45-54
June 7, 2025
Dr. Nikki Ruffin was an excellent therapist. She listened and guided me through the CBT to help me understand my emotions from my trauma, and how to view things in a new way. Her humor and personality fit with my own, and that gave me ease as I worked through my recent traumatic event.