Building great relationships is one of the most meaningful aspects of life. Hello perspective client! My name is Ruthie Doles and I hail from the central west coast of Florida. I am that rare Florida native who resides in the same area where I was born and raised. I’m in phase 2 of my work life. I retired from Pinellas County Government in 2017, where I worked as the manager of the county’s 911 Center for over 32 years. The daily human tragedies 911 dispatchers handle can be very stressful, but I found the personal stories of my employees much more compelling. My work as the 911 Center manager inspired me to become a therapist. I earned a BA in Interdisciplinary Social Sciences from University of South Florida in 2009 and obtained a Master’s in Social Work from the University of New England in 2016. I proudly became a licensed therapist in 2020, one good thing that occurred during the Covid pandemic. In my graduate program, I learned that all human behavior develops in the context of relationships. Family relationships are most significant to individual growth. The importance of healthy relationships in a successful life is often underestimated. The value of independence in our society overshadows our human need for connections. The quality of our family, friends, romantic, work and community connections impact our physical, mental and emotional health. Positive interactions promote feelings of connectedness and a sense of self-worth while negative encounters can lead to increased anxiety, a lack of self-confidence, and may even affect your thinking abilities. My primary practice approach is relational, using interventions that can help you understand the link between your thoughts, feelings and actions and the effect on your relationships. This will improve your ability to connect with others in ways that will enhance your life. I want to support you to have the loving, fulfilling, respectful relationships you deserve.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
Our relationship skill-building starts with the first session as we work together to identify your treatment goals and select therapy interventions that will best fit your needs and values. Sessions will be your time to work on areas you want to change. One note about change… during our sessions, you will learn that it’s more productive to focus on your behavior and give less attention to what others do. We can’t compel others to change and such efforts often leave us feeling frustrated. The more we focus our attention on others, the less time we spend considering our behavior. Keep in mind that relationships are systems where change in any one part automatically creates change within the unit. There is greater hope and likelihood for change when we commit to changing ourselves.
What treatment methods and tools do you utilize?
My preferred treatment methodology is cognitive behavior therapy interventions with a relational focus to improve social and emotional functioning. I have training in Adoption Competency, Child Parent Psychotherapy, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Emotional Freedom Techniques, Play Therapy, and the Gottman Method couples’ therapy as well as neurobehavioral training to better understand how the brain controls our actions.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
I specialize in treating trauma, anxiety and depression, which can significantly hinder your relationships. I have worked with those who have been involved with the child welfare/foster care system, including biological, kinship and adoptive families. I use cognitive behavior therapy to improve social and emotional functioning. Relational therapy using CBT promotes the development of skills that will assist you to identify behavior patterns that can be a source of strength or create challenges in your relationships. We will explore past trauma that may prohibit self-growth and get in the way of your ability to maintain healthy relationships. I will teach you strategies to improve communication, foster and sustain a positive rapport with others and manage conflict in a healthy way.