Dr. Mary Ellen Ruff

I was fortunate to find my love of working with others as a teenager, and pursued my Master's in Art Therapy after finishing college. Working for many years in a variety of clinical and forensic settings, I decided to pursue my PhD in Counseling in order to enhance my career and practice. Creativity is a gift that is often underutilized, and yet it is the foundation for expression, growth, and change. I maintain an active art practice that allows me to deepen my understanding of myself and others, and I often use artmaking with clients as a means to support the therapeutic relationship and process. Sometimes we have to work with what we have in order to get through tough times, and I believe we all have what we need, it just may not be accessible without some guidance and support. I want to work with you to access all parts of yourself in order for you to thrive.

My approach starts with genuine curiosity about you and an authentic interest in working with you to improve your life and achieve your goals. For the past 30 years, I have been working with adolescents, adults and families through art therapy and counseling to help clients gain self-awareness through the healing power of therapy. I use approaches such as EMDR, TF-CBT, motivational interviewing, and many art-based techniques to help you move from overwhelming emotions to feeling empowered. My genuineness, authenticity, and faith are strengths that have provided a strong foundation for witnessing the change in my clients.

We will simply start with a conversation which provides us the opportunity to get a sense of one another and how we might work together. As an art therapist, I may also create space for you to engage with art materials and express yourself, sharing symbolically especially when words fail to capture your experiences. We will collaborate to identify and build upon both internal and external resources and strengths to work through these transitions with grace. Whether you are experiencing ordinary or extraordinary times in your life, we can work together so you can move forward with confidence and self-assurance. Life can be hard, but I believe that we can work together to navigate the challenges we face within ourselves, in our relationships, our communities, and our world.