I am a licensed professional clinical counselor with over twelve years of experience as a counselor and psychotherapist. In addition, I bring over forty years of wisdom gleaned from working with individuals who prove time and again the resilience of the human spirit gives them the ability to overcome odds to find an optimal quality of life. Each person not only has their own unique challenges, but they have the capacity to be their own teachers and find answers within, therefore each treatment plan differs accordingly. Your concerns and purpose for seeking counseling will enable me to develop an effective treatment plan that will help you to find wholeness. My counseling style is to create a nurturing environment that invites openness and transparent authenticity by being a listening presence. I highly value human dignity and am a non-judgmental respecter of persons and find that there is an innate goodness in all persons. This goodness is at the core of our work to help you find balance of mind, body and spirit in all areas of your life. I specialize in relationship issues, self-esteem, self-worth and identity concerns, conflict resolution, anger management, depression, grief and loss, feelings of shame, trauma and abuse, spiritual discernment and whatever is troubling your soul that needs mending in order to give you inner peace and joy.

Thank you for taking the time to view my bio! I am a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor in the State of Ohio and have been practicing since 2004. I also just recently became licensed within the state of Nevada as well (2024). I worked in the college setting beginning in 2004, working with both traditional college age students as well as adult students. I have also been active in the online sector of therapy since November 2017. I have experience with a variety of issues that impact clients including, relationship issues, family issues, self esteem, mood disorders, suicidal ideations, anxiety, depression, etc. My approach is eclectic and I try to tailor my approach to what would be most beneficial to the individual client (including various theories and techniques), I feel it is important to be collaborative through this process and welcome any questions and feedback throughout the therapeutic experience. I hope that I can be a good fit for you and look forward to working with you through this process! Thank you for taking the time to learn more about me. Best wishes!

Hi! My name is Ashleigh. I am a Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor. I hold licenses in the states of Ohio, Idaho, Nebraska, and Washington. I have several non-US state clients as well. I have over 18 years experience working with adults, adolescents, couples, and families. I have worked in private practice, crisis center, hospital and school settings. I have the most counseling experience in the areas of: depression, anxiety, couples therapy, LGBTQIA+, grief/loss, eating disorders/dysmorphia, family therapy and stress management. My style of counseling is diverse. I realize therapy is not "one size fits all" so I like to partner with my clients to use methods grounded in cognitive-behavioral, client centered, and solution-focused theories. I believe in providing a safe environment as a way to encourage open communication. I will use techniques and support to empower my clients to help themselves feel better, find hope, and reach goals.  Here is some personal information about me: I have been married for 18 years and  we have 2 children. I was born and raised in small town Ohio, but our family recently moved to SW Florida for my husband's career. I wanted to become a counselor after the positive experience I had in counseling during my college career. My counselor helped me overcome my anxiety and improve my health and refocus.  Today I cope with stress through exercise, going to the beach, long showers, and talking openly with my spouse and closest friends. Even before Covid-19, I left my in-person practice and decided to enter the world of online counseling. I think it is a great option for those with busy schedules, lack of transportation, a transient life-style, no babysitting, or those who feel more comfortable emailing, texting, or chatting virtually. I would be honored to help you establish and reach your goals to create a healthier you!  Contact me today so we can get started!

I believe your story is important. The pain, the victories, the traumas, and the triumphs - all of those elements come together in a way that can either devastate us, hold us back, or motivate us to move forward. I want to cheer you on as you move farther forward than you imagined was possible. I have a compassionate, empathetic, and kind heart. Because we talk about some hard things, my unique sense of humor is a purposeful tool used to disarm and relax you as we find the best strategies to help move you towards your goals. I believe that all clients who want to get better can get better. As your provider, I will extend hope - even if you may currently not be able to. My positive attitude, combined with a realistic perspective and honest feedback, can help you improve your life. Please note: I only provide asynchronous therapy on BetterHelp through messaging. We have relationships with other people, of course, but we also are in relationships with places and things and concepts - and with ourselves. We need to fully understand those relationships and how they impact our wellness and happiness. I want to hear your stories. I want to understand your point of view. And I want to help you better understand all of your relationships. When it comes to my style, my approach is heavily influenced by the work of Jean Baker Miller and Relational-Cultural Theory, but I also utilize a variety of tools from other theories like Cognitive-Behavioral, Reality Therapy, Adlerian, and Gestalt. Because I have an eclectic toolbox, I’m able to choose tools, interventions, and approaches that will work for just about anyone’s personality. I love to look at the root causes for your problems and can discuss these issues in both philosophical ways and practical ones, too. I'll work hard to provide you with what you need - but if at any time you don't think we're a good fit, you can change providers at any time. I'll also be honest with you if I think you'd do better working with someone else. I respond to messages within 24 hours (Mon-Thurs) and often much sooner. Also, I regularly send check-in messages, some encouraging words, housekeeping items, and writing prompts to make sure we're connecting and engaging together. I look forward to working with you!

Life is challenging for all of us at times. I’m glad you’re here, taking the steps necessary to care for yourself. BetterHelp is exciting for me because I believe that each individual’s needs are unique and having a variety of ways to receive support is most beneficial. This platform allows for the flexibility that I value. I am Valerie Rutherford, a Licensed Independent Social Worker with supervisory endorsement (LISW-S) in Ohio. I have experience working with adults, adolescents, and children as well as couples and families. The focus of my career has been mental health; my areas of expertise include depression, anxiety, stress management, relationship management, and coping with life’s difficulties. You will find that I provide a safe, warm, non-judgmental space where you can process the emotions and difficulties you are facing. Using a collaborative, client-centered approach, we will work together to improve your situation. I offer a variety of interventions tailored to meet your specific needs. I am trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, Motivational Interviewing and Trauma Informed Care. I offer a flexible schedule and am open to whatever form of communication is most comfortable for you. You have begun the journey of seeking help, now I hope you will reach out to see what we can accomplish together!

Hi! I am a licensed independent social worker from Cincinnati, OH. I graduated from the University of Cincinnati in 2018 with my Master's in Social Work. I'm currently working in addiction/ mental health services. My focus right now is on addiction, depression, anxiety, PTSD, and overall self-love and self-esteem. I decided to become a social worker to provide others with what I wish I had growing up. I didn't have much support and had to figure everything out on my own. Sometimes, all people need is someone to talk to and a little therapy to give them a push in the right direction. I want to guide you and give you the necessary tools to set you up for success. I am very straight forward in my approach while still being understanding and showing compassion. I'm looking forward to working with you!

I am licensed in Ohio with 25 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with family conflicts, trauma and abuse, & parenting issues. I also have experience working with anger management. I believe that you are the expert of your story and that you have many strengths that will assist you in overcoming things that challenge you. It takes courage to seek out a more fulfilling and happier life and to take the first steps towards a change. I am here to support & empower you in that journey.

I am licensed in Ohio with 24 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, coping with addictions, anger management, & motivation, self esteem, and confidence. I believe that you are the expert of your story and that you have many strengths that will assist you in overcoming things that challenge you. Taking the first step to seeking a more fulfilling and happier life takes courage. I am here to support you in that process.

Hello! My name is Jan Ricks and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Florida and a Licensed Independent Social Worker in Ohio. I recently moved back to Florida from Northern Kentucky where I lived for 16 years. I taught at the University of Cincinnati in the School of Social Work and when I retired (as an Emeritus Professor) we moved back to Florida. I am now focused on living my dream of providing therapy. I have been a Professional Social Worker for over 30 years, and I also have over 10 years of professional therapy work experience. I have experience working with many different populations including individuals and families, to inclued teens and adults: the elderly the LGBTQ+ community including any gender variant person (Transgender, Intersex...). I have extensive experience helping people move forward in a productive way. I have worked with people experiencing life changes, grief and loss, women's issues, and many other life challenges. I have traveled to many places in the State of Ohio and Florida, conducting workshops for the employees of the State who required recertification. I have also conducted workshops and classes for private agencies providing education about Transgender, Gay, Lesbian and Intersex communities. I recently taught at the University of Central Florida as an Online instructor in the MSW program for the School of Social Work. After leaving the University of Central Florida I began working as a therapist at Better Help. I truly enjoy my work and have found online therapy to be very effective. It offers many opportunities that are not available in an office setting. Most important is I believe in the resilience of the human spirit and the power of change, and I also believe that people have many strengths that will help them overcome challenges they are facing. I utilize a variety of therapeutic methods including Cognitive-Behavior therapy to help create the change that people need. Taking the first step to seeking a more fulfilling and happier life takes courage and I am grateful to have the opportunity to be a part of creating that change. I am here to support you in that process. I also want to say that a therapist must be a good fit and I understand that reaching out can be difficult. I encourage you to take the leap! I look forward to meeting you!

I am licensed in Ohio with 12 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, & motivation, self esteem, and confidence. I believe that you are the expert of your story and that you have many strengths that will assist you in overcoming things that challenge you. It takes courage to seek out a more fulfilling and happier life and to take the first steps towards a change. I am here to support & empower you in that journey.

I am licensed in Nevada and Ohio with 10 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, & trauma and abuse. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. I will tailor our dialog and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. Taking the first step to sign up for therapy can take courage and I am proud of you for getting started!

I am licensed in Ohio with over 6 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress, anxiety, intimacy related issues, career difficulties, depression, ADHD, & bipolar disorder. I work with my clients to create an open and safe environment where thoughts and feelings can be shared without fear of judgment. Taking the first step to seeking a more fulfilling and happier life takes courage. I am here to support you in that process.

I am licensed in Ohio with 8 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, coping with addictions, motivation, self esteem, and confidence, & depression. I believe that you are the expert of your story and that you have many strengths that will assist you in overcoming things that challenge you. Taking the first step to sign up for therapy can take courage and I am proud of you for getting started! I look forward to assisting you in finding what those strengths may be.

I am an independently licensed mental health counselor in Ohio with 5 years of professional work experience. I take a collaborative, client-centered approach so my sessions will be tailored to your unique needs. I view therapy as a collaborative process where we work together to move towards solutions. Since I do not primarily work on the Betterhelp platform I currently am only offering weeknight appointments. I have experience with a diverse range of clients and topic areas. These include: life transitions, trauma, anxiety, panic attacks, depression, healthy relationships, stress, career counseling, and psychosis. Whether you are attempting to manage an ongoing stressor, trying to make an improvement, or just need someone to listen, I am here to help. Taking the first step towards a more fulfilling life takes courage and isn’t always easy. I am here to support you in that process and look forward to working together if you think I’m a good fit for your needs. Regardless, I believe in you!

I am licensed in the state of Ohio with more than 33 years of professional work experience. I have extensive experience in helping clients develop crisis coping skills, suicide prevention, health and wellness, stress and anxiety, trauma and abuse, coping with grief and loss, & depression. I also work extensively with Law Enforcement Officers. I specialize in solution focused brief therapy, utilizing a Rational-Emotive approach (amongst others) to assist others. I believe that you are the expert of your story and that you have many strengths that will assist you in overcoming things that challenge you, especially one's perspective of their situation. Taking the first step to seeking a more fulfilling and happier life takes courage. I am here to support you in that process!