Julia Ruff

Specialties: LGBTQIA+, anxiety, depression, neurodivergence, family conflict, divorce, adoption, technology overuse, isolation, school refusal, women's issues

Julia has been working in the mental health field for nine years. After earning her Bachelors degrees in Sociology and Psychology at the University of North Carolina Asheville, she provided direct care for youth in crisis, then taught art and music classes at summer camps and for children of refugees. Her experiences in Waldorf schools as a student and assistant teacher inform her therapeutic approach, which focuses on nature, mindfulness, and expressive arts.

While earning her Master of Science degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Plymouth State University, completed her practicum and internships at a therapeutic school, an unhoused services organization, and two therapeutic residential programs.

Julia has a passion for providing clients and their families with support, guidance, and skills to use for the rest of their lives. She strongly believes in the positive outcomes created through individual and family therapy and feels honored to share her experience and skills to this end.

When Julia isn’t working, she enjoys walking her two rescue dogs, petting her rescue cat, spending time in nature, swimming, singing, gardening, traveling, and playing board games.

Julia enjoys working with young people ages 10 to 25 to help them find their strengths, rebuild positive relationships with themselves and others, and increase their confidence. She believes every client is an expert on their own life and is capable of achieving substantial and lasting positive change.

Julia most loves working with middle schoolers and young adults, as in these life stages people often find themselves feeling stuck without enough skills to meet their goals. She enjoys teaching clients and their families the things we often aren’t taught, like communication, emotion regulation, conflict resolution, and making friends.

Julia has a playful approach and enjoys using games, humor, art, and music in sessions. She loves working with people who hate the idea of therapy by making it playful and fun!

In our first session, we will spend some time getting to know each other to make sure I’m a good fit for you. This is a great time for both of us to ask each other and answer questions. We will then figure out some goals you want to work on and I will give you some introductory information about what our work together will look like.

Down the line, I will help you build self awareness, develop your identity, practice mindfulness skills, repair relationships, and strengthen your self compassion. These outcomes are secondary as your goals will always be our main focus overall!