Ruth MacBain, LCPC, LCMHC

Ruth MacBain is a licensed community mental health clinician who holds both LCPC and LCMHC credentials - licensed clinical professional counselor and licensed clinical mental health counselor - and she also holds a master’s level certificate in Substance Use Disorders. Her clinical experience includes work in residential treatment settings and in Integrated Treatment for Co-Occurring Disorders, where she developed practical skills helping people manage overlapping mental health and substance use concerns.

She uses a collaborative approach with clients, drawing primarily on Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). When teaching groups focused on substance use, she incorporates Seeking Safety and CBT Integration for Substance Use Disorders to address both coping skills and relapse prevention. Ruth has additional training and experience working with LGBTQ individuals, people with anxiety, depression, and PTSD, and with autistic people and those with intellectual disabilities.

Outside of clinical work she volunteers with Adaptive Sports and supports initiatives that help people with autism and other disabilities overcome barriers. She enjoys spending time outdoors, especially hiking, biking, and swimming, and brings that same practical, strengths-based orientation to her therapeutic work.

Therapeutic Approaches Adapted for Online Care

Ruth commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which helps people identify and shift unhelpful thinking patterns and behaviors to reduce symptoms like anxiety and depression. She also employs Dialectical Behavior Therapy, which focuses on building practical skills for emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and improving interpersonal effectiveness - useful for emotion-driven difficulties and relationship challenges. Client-Centered Therapy is part of her collaborative stance, emphasizing listening, empathy, and supporting each person to discover their own solutions.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Ruth will work with each client to assess needs, goals, and preferences and then tailor methods accordingly, combining techniques when that best supports progress.

Online therapy with Ruth is offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to provide flexibility for different schedules and comfort levels. These options make it easier to maintain regular sessions, access care from home or while traveling, and fit therapy into a busy life, while still working with licensed professionals and therapists committed to practical, goal-focused support.