Andrew Ryan
I believe counseling should feel like a real conversation with someone who is genuinely invested in helping you move forward. My approach is supportive, direct, practical, and holistic, looking at the whole person rather than simply focusing on symptoms. A big part of my work involves helping clients identify the beliefs, thought patterns, and experiences that may be shaping how they see themselves, their relationships, and the challenges they face. I work with individuals experiencing anxiety, stress, life transitions, self-doubt, relationship concerns, and performance-related challenges. I also have a strong interest in working with athletes around pressure, confidence, identity, setbacks, and the mental side of performance. Together, we work toward creating greater self-awareness, developing healthier beliefs and coping strategies, and building the confidence to make meaningful and lasting change,
First session
My goal for the first session is for clients to leave feeling heard, understood, and a little more hopeful about what comes next. We will take time to talk about what brought you to therapy, what has been weighing on you, and what you would like to be different in your life. There is no expectation that you share everything at once or have all the answers. I want the first session to feel comfortable, conversational, and collaborative. We will begin identifying important patterns, beliefs, experiences, and goals while developing a direction for our work together. Most importantly, I want you to leave knowing that therapy is a place where you can be yourself and where we will work together toward meaningful change.
Strengths
I bring a combination of empathy, honesty, life experience, and a willingness to challenge clients when it can help them grow. I believe people need a space where they feel heard and understood, but I also believe therapy should help create movement and change. I often help clients look beneath the surface at the beliefs, patterns, and past experiences that may be influencing how they think, feel, and respond today. My approach is holistic and individualized, recognizing that emotional, mental, relational, and life experiences are all connected. I try to meet each person where they are while helping them build greater awareness, confidence, and trust in themselves.
Ideal clients
My ideal client is someone who feels stuck, overwhelmed, anxious, or disconnected from the person they want to be and is ready to better understand what may be contributing to those feelings. They may be struggling with self-doubt, stress, past experiences, relationship concerns, life transitions, or the pressure to perform and meet expectations. I especially enjoy working with clients who are open to exploring how their beliefs, experiences, and patterns may be influencing their lives today. This can include athletes dealing with confidence, performance anxiety, identity, setbacks, or burnout, as well as anyone wanting meaningful personal growth. My ideal client does not need to have everything figured out—they simply need to be willing to be honest, curious, and open to looking at themselves in a new way.
Treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I use CBT to help clients understand how their thoughts, beliefs, emotions, and behaviors are connected. Together, we identify patterns that may be contributing to anxiety, self-doubt, stress, or feeling stuck, and then work on developing healthier and more helpful ways of thinking and responding. I often focus on the deeper beliefs behind automatic thoughts, not just the thoughts themselves. From there, we work on practical strategies that clients can use in everyday life. I also integrate CBT into a broader, holistic approach so treatment is tailored to the whole person rather than using a one-size-fits-all method.
Acceptance and commitment (ACT)
I use ACT to help clients develop a healthier relationship with difficult thoughts, emotions, and experiences rather than feeling controlled by them. Together, we work on noticing what is happening internally, making room for uncomfortable feelings, and becoming less reactive to thoughts that may create fear, doubt, or avoidance. I also help clients clarify what truly matters to them so they can make choices that are more aligned with their values. The goal is not to eliminate every difficult thought or feeling, but to build greater flexibility, self-trust, and the ability to keep moving forward even when discomfort is present.
Compassion Focused
I use compassion-focused therapy to help clients develop a healthier and more supportive relationship with themselves, especially when they struggle with self-criticism, shame, anxiety, or feeling as though they are never good enough. Together, we explore where these patterns may have developed and how they continue to influence thoughts, emotions, and behavior. I help clients learn to respond to themselves with greater understanding and compassion while still taking responsibility for growth and change. The goal is not to ignore difficult emotions or challenges, but to reduce the harsh inner dialogue that can keep people stuck and replace it with a more balanced, encouraging, and resilient way of relating to themselves.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
I use DBT skills to help clients manage intense emotions, reduce impulsive or unhelpful reactions, and respond to stressful situations in healthier ways. Together, we work on practical tools for emotional regulation, distress tolerance, mindfulness, and improving communication and relationships. I also emphasize the balance between acceptance and change—learning to acknowledge what you are feeling without judgment while still taking steps toward the life you want. The goal is to help clients feel more in control of their responses, more confident in handling difficult moments, and better able to navigate relationships and everyday stress.
Person-centered (Rogerian)
I use a person-centered approach to create a space where clients feel genuinely heard, respected, and understood without judgment. I believe each person has strengths, insight, and the capacity for growth, even when they may not feel connected to those parts of themselves. Rather than telling clients who they should be or what they should do, I work collaboratively with them to better understand their experiences, beliefs, emotions, and goals. I bring empathy, authenticity, and curiosity into the therapeutic relationship while also offering support and appropriate challenge when it can help create growth. The goal is to help clients develop greater self-awareness, self-acceptance, confidence, and trust in their ability to make meaningful changes in their lives.
Location
Virtual sessions
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Licensed in
- OhioLicense E.1800543-SUPV