LPCC, 4 years of experience
Hello! I’m Ryan. I earned my master’s degree in Counselor Education from The Ohio State University in 2022. Following graduation, I began working in Community Mental Health, where I spent three years in a fast-paced, high-acuity setting. During that time, I had the privilege of working with a diverse range of children, adolescents, adults, and families. I also facilitated a Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) support group, helping clients build emotional regulation skills, healthier relationships, and a deeper sense of self-awareness. Outside of therapy, I enjoy spending time with my two rescue dogs, practicing Muay Thai, and immersing myself in nature. I’m a firm believer in the value of slowing down and finding intention in this often chaotic, ever-changing world. As Viktor Frankl once said, “A man with a why can endure any how.” In today’s world of distraction, avoidance, and constant comparison, it’s easy to feel disconnected from what it truly means to live. Fear, doubt, and painful life experiences can cloud our path forward, leaving us feeling stuck or overwhelmed. As your therapist, I can do nothing to take away your pain; however, I vow to sit with you to endure it. I promise to do my best to assist you forthrightly, uncovering and fostering lasting resilience. I’ll offer a safe, compassionate space where we can work collaboratively to explore your story, uncover your strengths, and chart a course forward. Together, we’ll develop practical, meaningful strategies tailored to your unique experience. My commitment is to walk beside you with unwavering support as you pursue healing, growth, and clarity.
Effective therapy begins with a strong, trusting relationship between client and counselor. In our work together, my initial focus is on understanding your needs while creating a space where you feel safe, heard, and respected. From this foundation, we can build a collaborative partnership that empowers you to face challenges with confidence and clarity.
My greatest strength as a provider lies in my authenticity, openness, and directness. Often the answers we need are the ones we avoid at all costs. I strive to create a space where clients feel supported and accepted to move towards the things that frighten them the most. Through honest connection and reflective guidance, I help clients recognize their own resilience and capacity to overcome obstacles, ultimately empowering them to manage adversity and build more fulfilling, purpose-driven lives.
I believe that acceptance and accountability are fundamental to effective therapy. I’m best positioned to serve clients who are ready to begin a journey of reflection, intentional planning, and summoning the courage to move forward through life’s trials and tribulations. Together, we’ll explore the conditions and personal strengths needed to reduce stress, build resilience, and foster lasting change.
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) is a powerful approach for managing challenging situations, regulating emotions, and strengthening interpersonal relationships. Through DBT, I teach clients practical, evidence-based skills that, with consistent practice, significantly enhance their quality of life. In session, I support my clients in their practice of these skills, ultimately improving their resilience and efficiency in navigating life stressors.
Working in the mental health field began for me six years ago at Nationwide Children's Hospital. I assumed a therapeutic role in their inpatient unit, supervising an open milieu of adolescents and children admitted at the time. NCH required frequent training to educate on the prevalence and impact of trauma and build the skills necessary to ensure a safe, empowering, and healing environment for all patients receiving care. NCH laid the foundation for me as I transitioned into community mental health. Subsequently, I honed my therapeutic skills while working with a population embedded in complex and generational trauma.
Psychoeducation is an essential component of my clinical practice. Exploring mental health conditions, treatment options, coping strategies, and recovery processes in an educational context is an effective tool for empowering clients and instilling hope. I use psychoeducation to develop a client's insight into the challenges they face, reduce the stigma they feel, and provide practical tools for managing their symptoms and alleviating stress.
I began using motivational interviewing techniques while working with substance use disorders in the community mental health field. I quickly discovered its effectiveness in changing a wide range of damaging behaviors. I use MI to help clients become aware of their behaviors and ambivalence to change them. I strive to provide the necessary support to build the client's intrinsic motivation and work together to develop a plan to ensure change successfully.
In my clinical practice, I employ Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to support clients grappling with an overactive mind and overwhelmed by persistent thoughts that are often disconnected from their objective reality. CBT helps to explore and process the core beliefs that fuel dysfunctional thoughts. In session, I aim to equip my clients with coping strategies to lessen the impact of these thoughts on their overall psychological well-being.