Hey there! I’m Ryan.
Deciding to attend therapy and finding the right match with a therapist can be overwhelming! I hope this introduction provides you a sense of who I am and how I operate as a therapist. Who knows, we may be a perfect fit!
I have a relaxed and relational approach to therapy, meaning I care deeply about my clients’ comfort with our therapeutic relationship. My primary goal is to create a trusting and honest relationship between myself and my clients, allowing space for vulnerability. I am naturally casual, and use humor frequently in my professional and personal life. I take a non-directive approach to therapy, meaning that I do not follow a strict protocol or predetermined structure when we meet. Rather, you can come in and address whatever challenges you feel are most important at each session. I believe a non-directive approach reinforces that therapy is your choice and you have control of it. If you’re looking for a therapist who is highly structured and directive in sessions, I may not be the perfect fit for you.
I enjoy working alongside my clients to address challenges with trauma, grief, anxiety, depression, confidence, and life transitions. When needed, I utilize trauma focused treatment approaches, such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT). I love helping clients make connections between current patterns of behavior and previous life experiences. There’s usually a reason we react, behave, and respond the way that we do and I believe it can be helpful to explore why!
Biography
Prior to working in the mental health field, Ryan worked for five years with individuals with developmental disabilities. Ryan attended the University of North Carolina Wilmington for his undergraduate and graduate degrees, graduating with his Bachelors of Social Work in 2017 and his Master’s of Clinical Social Work in 2019. Ryan spent two years working in Intensive In-Home Therapy leading a team of therapists. Ryan and his team went into clients’ homes to promote healthy communication, crisis management skills, and emotion regulation techniques. While working in Intensive In-Home, Ryan became a rostered TF-CBT therapist. In 2021 Ryan began working in an outpatient therapy setting. Since working in an outpatient setting, he has also become trained as an EMDR therapist. When he’s not in the office, Ryan is bouncing between coffee shops, hanging out with his dog, or fishing.