Ricky Borders

Does hope feel like a dangerous thing? Have you been crawling through foulness that most people could not even imagine? It is never too late to look closer. It is never too late to remember that there is still so much beauty in the world. If you are ready to get busy living, I am here to help. You were never meant to be caged by your struggles. Let’s work together to dissolve those bars so your brightest feathers can finally shine.

Hi, I’m Ricky. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). Whether you are a teen who feels like they've been kicked down Alice's rabbit hole, an individual carrying heavy secrets behind a polished facade, a couple feeling stuck in their own Groundhog Day reliving the exact same misery, or a family realizing that life isn't as simple as the movies where everything is okay as the credits roll and the happily ever after did not prepare you for your story, I believe that in therapy, you are always in the director's chair. You have brains in your head, you have feet in your shoes, and you have the opportunity to steer your story in any direction you choose. My role is to walk alongside you, equipping you with the tools and support to help you rewrite your narrative.

• Broad Clinical Experience: My background spans inpatient/outpatient mental health, medical hospitals, youth residential care, child protection, and hospice, giving me deep insight into complex life challenges.
• Lived Real-World Understanding: As a husband, father of four, and rural community member, I know real life rarely sticks to the script. I intimately understand grief, toxic workplaces, family health issues, and navigating state agency systems.
• Helping You Forward: When your story gets dark or you feel stuck in the "Waiting Place," I bring real-world experience to help you get un-slumped, move your mountains, and turn the page to your next chapter.

Setting the Stage for Our Work Together

• Collaborative Problem Solving & Solution-Focused Therapy (SFBT): I specialize in helping individuals and families navigate crises and unexpected plot twists. In our sessions, we will focus on identifying your existing strengths, clarifying preferred outcomes, and mapping out practical, achievable steps toward what you want your life to look like.
• Emotionally Focused & Solution-Focused Couples Guidance: In session, we will slow down recurring arguments, examine the negative feedback loops keeping you stuck, and utilize solution-focused tools to clarify your shared partnership goals—practicing new communication scripts to foster secure attachment and emotional reconnection.

The first session is an opportunity for you to get to know me and for me to get to know you from the comfort of your own space via telehealth and the session will be able an hour. I know that logging onto a video call for the first time can feel a little nerve-wracking, so please feel free to bring your favorite coffee, tea, or even wear your coziest sweatpants—whatever helps you settle in.

I want to hear your story, understand what you are facing, and learn what you hope to address. Together, we will outline a plan for our work and set a collaborative expectation for the number of sessions it will take to support your needs. This is an opportunity for us to get to know each other and see if we fit. If we do not, that is just fine, but if we do I look forward to taking this journey with you.

What You Can Expect from Me:

• A Warm Welcome: I will greet you with a smile to start and help ease any first-session jitters.
• A Touch of Humor: I will probably tell you a dad joke or two.
• A Cinematic Spin: I might even drop a movie or book quote along the way.
• A Safe Space: All jokes aside, I am here to provide a safe, affirming environment where you are in the director's chair, fully supported as we work toward your goals.