Therapist Ruth Stoan Photo

Ruth Stoan, LPC

Stress, Anxiety Grief Self esteem, Motivation Depression Coping with life changes
Video Phone Live Chat Messaging

About me

Hi and Congratulations on taking this huge step forward in your life.
Having “reached out” myself for counseling I know what it is like to realize you need extra support to make changes. Getting out of our own way is the first step and you have done that!

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and certified coach and have been assisting individuals achieve their goals for many years. I have enjoyed working in private practice with individuals and couples dealing with relationships, grief and loss, stress, anxiety, life changes, LGBTQ+ issues, in community agencies working with addictions, and in facilities helping families deal with changing roles and aging parents.

A special focus for me is supporting women as they move through major life changes and focus on questions of who they are and what they want in life.

I have a MA in Counseling from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and have studied many therapeutic approaches. My training with a variety of holistic tools allows me to help you reach the goals you have more quickly and easily. These include mindfulness, breath work, relaxation, theta healing, imagery and clearing blocking beliefs. We work together to create a plan and develop your skills to live a more meaningful and successful life.

You can learn more about my approaches at my Facebook page: Opening Choices,
https://www.facebook.com/Opening-Choices-2216183171967672

We will work on your immediate concerns as well as identify the deeper factors that may be limiting your progress. We will share this healing journey as far as you desire.

My goal is to empower you to live the fullest, most successful life you desire. I will be your strongest advocate and support in this process. I believe you have strengths that can be tapped and strengthened to change your life and when we get rid of the old habits and thought patterns that have been sabotaging success, change happens!

I find it helpful to participate in video sessions so that we can get to know each other better. But I am also available to you via phone and text if that is more comfortable for you, during weekdays, some evenings and by request on Saturday. I also check my messages frequently during the day.

I look forward to sharing with you.

Professional experience

35 yrs in practice
Stress, Anxiety Grief Self esteem, Motivation Depression Coping with life changes

Additional areas of focus: Addictions, LGBT, Relationship issues, Trauma and abuse, Intimacy-related issues, Anger management, Career difficulties, Coaching, Compassion fatigue, ADHD, Abandonment, Aging and geriatric issues, Body image, Caregiver issues and stress, Codependency, Commitment issues, Communication problems, Control issues, Dissociation, Divorce and separation, Emptiness, Family of origin issues, Forgiveness, Guilt and shame, Hospice and end-of-life counseling, Isolation / loneliness, Jealousy, Life purpose, Midlife crisis, Money and financial issues, Mood disorders, Polyamory / non-monogamous relationships, Post-traumatic stress, Self-love, Smoking / vaping cessation, Women's issues, Workplace issues

Clinical approaches: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT), Existential Therapy, Mindfulness Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Narrative Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Somatic Therapy, Internal Family Systems

Services offered

Video
Phone
Live Chat
Messaging

License information

MO LPC 000702

Reviews

These quotes represent just a few of the many positive reviews that we have received for Ruth Stoan. We don't pay anyone to provide their review and they are all made voluntarily. Some people's experience receiving therapy with BetterHelp might be different.

Ruth has been my touchstone throughout my troubled family mess.

Written on Nov 07, 2025 after therapy with Ruth for 3 years and 11 months on issues concerning depression, and family conflicts

Ruth is an attentive and experienced therapist who is helping me identify ways to make the necessary changes in my life.

Written on Nov 06, 2025 after therapy with Ruth for 3 months on issues concerning stress, anxiety, grief, self esteem, and coaching

A calming and encouraging disposition. Gently directs the patient to the root of unhelpful mindsets and habits without blame or insistence.

Written on Aug 06, 2025 after therapy with Ruth for 2 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, addictions, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, intimacy-related issues, anger management, and adhd

Ruth has been amazing to help me process and move along through big changes in my life. She has a wealth of personal and professional experience to help a young woman like myself go through a big life transition and hone in on the core of aligning my life with my desires and dreams. She’s been so helpful in my processing of emotions, understanding myself, and taking steps towards change.

Written on Jul 01, 2025 after therapy with Ruth for 4 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, and coping with life changes

Absolutely fantastic! Understanding, gets to your level, and tries to help you reach where you want to go and more ~

Written on Mar 25, 2025 after therapy with Ruth for 2 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, addictions, lgbt, relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, grief, intimacy-related issues, eating disorders, sleeping disorders, parenting issues, self esteem, anger management, career difficulties, bipolar dis

Ruth is caring, knowledgeable, empathetic, and a problem solver. Her intuition guides her ability to connect with you and bring you through your current struggles to see better days and heal from the past.

Written on Mar 16, 2025 after therapy with Ruth for 1 year and 7 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, lgbt, relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, intimacy-related issues, parenting issues, and self esteem