About Ruth
Ruth Westfall uses a client-centered approach combined with practical techniques to help people cope with stress, anxiety, trauma, and life changes. She brings 30 years of experience as a licensed social worker to sessions and focuses on helping people find manageable skills for everyday struggles. Ruth is based in Michigan and offers therapy in English.
Ruth has a long history working with trauma and victims of crime, and she has seen how stress affects many parts of life.
How Ruth works
She noticed during the COVID-19 pandemic that anxiety and depression rose sharply, and that the emotional effects can last for years. That experience helped shape her focus on emotional, physical, and spiritual self-care. In session she blends client-centered work with cognitive behavioral techniques to challenge unhelpful thoughts and build coping skills.
She also uses elements of dialectical behavior therapy and mindfulness to help with emotional regulation and present-moment awareness. Motivational interviewing supports people who are ready to make changes but need help finding the first steps. Ruth often addresses concerns like parenting stress, caregiver strain, relationship and family issues, grief, anger, low self-esteem, and workplace or career stress.
She also works with mood disorders, panic attacks, post-traumatic stress, seasonal affective disorder, and effects of domestic or sexual violence. Her style is straightforward and strength-focused. She helps people identify what is working and build practical routines and skills.
Sessions aim to leave people with clear steps they can try between meetings.
Ruth lists 7 ways of working on the entry:
What Ruth works with
The areas below are the ones Ruth selected when setting up a profile. The first few are listed as the main focus; the rest are also named.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Trauma and abuse
- Parenting issues
Also listed
- ADHD
- Anger management
- Bipolar disorder
- Career difficulties
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Compassion fatigue
- Coping with life changes
- Depression
- Domestic violence
- Family conflicts
- Forgiveness
- Grief
- Isolation / loneliness
- LGBT
- Mood disorders
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Post-traumatic stress
- Relationship issues
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Self esteem
- Sexual assault and abuse
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Women's issues
Training and background
| Register | LMSW |
|---|---|
| Years in practice | 30 |
| Languages | English |
| Session format | Online: video, phone, live chat or messaging |
| Country | Michigan |
Memberships and registers are shown as supplied; they are not licences, and this directory does not verify them.
Online support options
Approaches that guide online sessions
Ruth draws on client-centered work to make sure sessions focus on each person's goals and strengths. This approach emphasizes listening and tailoring support so people feel heard and can set their own pace. She also uses cognitive behavioral therapy, which looks at the links between thoughts, feelings, and behavior. CBT helps people identify unhelpful thinking patterns and replace them with practical skills for managing anxiety, depression, panic, and mood swings. Finding the right approach is part of the work together. Ruth will discuss your needs and preferences and suggest methods that fit your goals. The plan may combine client-centered listening with CBT skills, mindfulness practice, or motivational interviewing depending on what helps most. Online formats make it easier to fit therapy into busy lives. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation and visual cues, phone sessions can be a good option when bandwidth is limited, live chat works for shorter check-ins, and text-based messaging supports ongoing reflections between appointments. These options offer flexibility so people can choose what fits their routine and comfort level.Start online instead of waiting
Our partner service asks a few questions about what you are looking for and matches you with a therapist for sessions from home.
Book with RuthWe will earn a commission if you sign up through our link, at no cost to you.
Common questions
What kinds of concerns does Ruth address?
What is Ruth's general therapy style?
How much experience does she have?
What credential does she hold and where is she located?
Which languages are offered and are international clients supported?
What session formats are available?
How is cost handled?
How do I begin working with Ruth?
A practical next step
Write down two things you would want to be different in six months. That is the most useful thing to bring to a first session, whoever it is with. If you would rather start now than keep reading, online sessions are the quickest route.
We will earn a commission if you sign up through our link, at no cost to you. Entries are not assessed or endorsed by this directory.
Other entries for stress, anxiety
Supportive LCSW helping people build strength and clarity
Practical, trauma-aware therapy for everyday life
Practical, relational therapy for life transitions