Ruth Westfall , LMSW

Ruth Westfall brings more than 30 years of clinical experience to her work, with a long history of supporting people who have experienced trauma and victims of crime. She has worked in community settings and, more recently at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, she practiced in a public health center alongside a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, observing how prolonged stress and traumatic events affect many areas of life. Ruth emphasizes that these impacts can reach physical health, mental health, education, employment, substance use, and relationships, and that such concerns can persist for decades if unaddressed.

Ruth encourages attention to emotional, spiritual, and physical well-being and recognizes that many people faced increased anxiety and depression during the pandemic. She offers practical skills and therapeutic support to help clients manage symptoms and navigate life changes. As an LMSW - a Licensed Master Social Worker - she draws on decades of experience to help people identify strengths, build coping skills, and pursue healing in constructive ways. Ruth’s approach combines understanding, skill-building, and collaboration to help individuals move forward from distress toward greater resilience and functioning.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Ruth Westfall integrates client-centered therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) into her online work. Client-centered therapy focuses on creating a compassionate, nonjudgmental space where the client’s goals and values guide the process - it helps people gain clarity, build confidence, and feel heard. CBT is a practical, skills-oriented approach that helps clients identify unhelpful thoughts and behaviors and develop strategies to reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress.

She also draws on dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) skills when emotion regulation and interpersonal effectiveness are priorities. DBT provides concrete tools for managing intense emotions, reducing reactivity, and improving relationships. Ruth collaborates with clients to determine which approaches fit their needs, goals, and preferences, adjusting the plan as therapy progresses in a shared, client-centered process.

Online sessions by video, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging offer flexibility for people juggling work, caregiving, or mobility concerns. These options make it easier to maintain continuity of care, access regular support, and practice skills between sessions with licensed professionals and therapists who can adapt methods to each person’s circumstances.