Liv Ruffing
I am focused on helping you live your best life, mentally, physically, spiritually, and culturally, to have a deeper connection with those around you, and finally begin the process of self-acceptance & healing. Why continue down the same path, only to yield the same results? Allow yourself the opportunity to heal, love, and grow.
Having the right therapist in trauma recovery makes all the difference, when it comes to either being re-traumatized and regressing, or cognitively processing events, and eliminating phobias.
Having the right therapist in trauma recovery makes all the difference, when it comes to either being re-traumatized and regressing, or cognitively processing events, and eliminating phobias. This was my reason for becoming a counselor years ago, and undoubtedly my strongest area. Experience merits a level of expertise that cannot compare to books.
First session
If you have never been in therapy before, it may be helpful to write down 1-2 topics/life concerns you’d like to address during the session. New intakes may want to plan on 1 hr/ 1 hr 15mins for the first session, and I do 54-minute follow up sessions. For predictability: I am often 5mins late, but never over 15mins late. I very rarely cancel, I work everyday unless traveling, and I have hours outside of the posted schedule if you have a tetris-like schedule & need a specific day/time- just let me know. :) Also, if you're scheduling for couples counseling, it will list you as the client & won't show additional parties; this is because the insurance is covering you as an individual entity for the therapy, but you can list details about partner(s) joining the session on the intake form specifically, which is how I'll know if it's a couples counseling vs individual therapy session.
Strengths
I have quite a bit of experience, specifically with assessments; I am therefore fairly direct in identifying the issue, explaining the treatment modality used specific to your circumstance, and why. Of all topics, couples counseling is the easiest. Typically, people get better pretty quickly, and decide to space out sessions to once or twice a month. The pace is always up to the client. I also work well with neurodivergents. I have a long history of working as a therapist in addiction medicine, for those looking to reduce or eliminate substance use. I specialize in OCD (neurodivergent type), ASD, ADHD, & phobias, and have helped several patients overcome their fears & return to driving. And lastly, I am helpful with treating trauma, due to clinical experience in the field. Although trauma may have a longer duration in terms of treatment, people can, and have, worked through trauma, in order to repair their relationships, and heal their lives. Change can, and does happen- there’s no reason to continue the same patterns only to attain the same results.
Ideal clients
I specialize in: ADHD, ASD, OCD (neurodivergent type), trauma, PTSD, personality & dissociative disorders, chemical & behavioral addictions, as well as impulse control disorders. I am also well-versed in couples counseling (EFT, Transactional Analysis, & Gottman method are primary Tx modalities I utilize); typically couples have a handful of sessions at most, and find they no longer need it, as they begin to implement behaviors to improve their interpersonal communication long-term. I am LGBTQIA+, poly/pan/demi/asexual/aromantic, (all the things) affirming. I enjoy working with people who are open-minded & solution-oriented.
Treatment methods
Trauma-Focused CBT
Although I use a variety of empirically-supported methods, cognitive behavioral therapy is the umbrella under which all these behavioral methods are derived. I am also a believer in Adlerian theory- that social justice & social inclusion of community will provide the strongest support system. Having the right therapist in trauma recovery makes all the difference, when it comes to either being re-traumatized and regressing, or cognitively processing events, and eliminating phobias.
Location
Virtual sessions
Identifies as
Top specialties
Other specialties
Licensed in
- MichiganLicense 6401014927
- WashingtonLicense MHC.LH.61652505