Ruth Westfall, LMSW

Ruth Westfall is a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) with more than 30 years of experience helping people recover from trauma and cope with long-term stress. She has focused much of her career on supporting victims of crime and, more recently, worked in a public health setting alongside a psychiatric nurse practitioner where she observed the prolonged effects of trauma during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Ruth recognizes that trauma and sustained stress can affect many areas of life including physical and mental health, education, employment, substance use, and close relationships, and that these impacts can persist for decades. She notes that anxiety and depression increased substantially during the pandemic and that many people are struggling to manage these changes.

She works collaboratively with individuals to build practical skills for managing anxiety, depression, grief, caregiver stress, relationship issues, and other challenges. Ruth integrates Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Mindfulness Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing to help people identify strengths and create positive steps forward. Her approach emphasizes emotional, spiritual, and physical self-care while teaching concrete strategies to cope and heal over time.

Therapeutic approaches and online care with Ruth Westfall

Ruth Westfall integrates Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) in her online practice. Client-Centered Therapy focuses on empathetic listening and collaboration so the person feels understood and empowered to explore their concerns - it is often helpful for grief, relationship strain, and general emotional distress. CBT helps people identify and adjust unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, making it a common choice for anxiety, depression, panic, and mood-related issues. DBT teaches practical skills in emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness, which can support those struggling with intense emotions or frequent interpersonal conflicts.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Ruth works collaboratively with each person to determine which methods best match their needs, goals, and preferences, and she adapts strategies over time as progress and circumstances evolve.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility - sessions can occur by video call, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging - allowing people to access licensed professionals from home or while managing busy schedules. These options make it easier to maintain continuity of care during life transitions and to choose the communication format that feels most comfortable.