Ruth Saunders, Resident in Counseling
Ruth helps kids, teens, and adults find hope and healing while navigating life’s challenges.
Ruth has experience working with children, teens, and adults in a variety of settings, including schools, non-profits, and community mental health centers. She has a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology and a Master's Degree in School Counseling. She is a Resident in Counseling and is pursuing an additional certification in Play Therapy.
Ruth enjoys working with people navigating difficult situations, such as dealing with difficult or traumatic experiences in the past, grief, loss, and major adjustment to life's changes and challenges. She also supports people in finding hope and healing who are living with anxiety, depression, self-esteem issues, and stress.
Ruth takes an approach of getting to know each client's background, with care to understand any experiences or traumas that have impacted their lives. She helps clients identify the opportunities to create change and healing in their lives, process past pain and trauma, and find ways to accept what we cannot change and control.
In her work with children and teens, Ruth pulls from Play Therapy and interactive modalities that are most engaging and effective with younger clients.
In her work with adults, Ruth adapts therapy to what is most helpful to each person. She uses a Person-Centered approach that focuses on active listening and getting to the root of what's going on in her client's particular situation. At certain times, Ruth might recognize that a more creative or expressive approach might be best suited for what's happening in her client's process. Depending on your comfort levels, she incorporates exercises such as journaling, art, or sand tray work to strengthen the therapeutic work in sessions.
Ruth firmly believes that everyone goes through challenges sometimes and can benefit from healing and growing in a compassionate, supportive environment.
When she's not in the office, she enjoys being outside enjoying the James River with her family and dog.
Ruth meets with clients in-person at our counseling practice in Richmond. She also provides online counseling for clients who are located across Virginia.
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Continue Exploring Our Counselors
Stephen Barlow, LPC is provides counseling for adults, as well as couples therapy. He provides in-person counseling for overcoming anxiety, depression, and stress stemming from relationships or past experiences. Stephen is a licensed professional counselor in Richmond VA and offers virtual therapy across Virginia.
Ruth Saunders is a Resident in Counseling in Richmond, VA. She provides therapy for anxiety, depression, grief & loss, and stress from relationships or major life changes. Ruth has experience in child therapy and counseling for adults.
Gabrielle is a Resident in Counseling in Richmond VA. She helps teens and adults who experience stress and overwhelming feelings of grief, sadness, and anxiety, stemming from burn-out, traumatic experiences or broken or difficult relationships. Gabrielle has current openings for in-person therapy and online counseling appointments at LaunchPad Counseling.
Melanie is passionate about finding creative ways to support her clients in overcoming life's difficulties. She combines talk therapy, mindfulness, and playful therapy to provide a comfortable and engaging healing environment for children, teenagers, and young adults.
Allie uses Music Therapy to help clients find answers around who they are, what they want, how to reach their personal goals, and find internal peace.
Josh is a Licensed Professional Counselor who provides virtual therapy sessions to teens and adults who struggle with feelings of depression, anxiety, unhappiness, and relationship issues. Josh’s therapy is LGBTQ-friendly and affirming. He provides online counseling across Virginia.
Philip is a online therapist in Virginia. He helps teens, families, and adults overcome trauma, manage life’s challenges, and find positive ways to deal with a wide range of emotions.
Deeply committed to helping adults heal from broken relationships, traumatic experiences, and emotional hurt, Alex helps kids and adults find hope and gain a new sense of joy.
Bethany is a therapist in Richmond VA, who works with teens and adults who are learning to set healthy boundaries in relationships, managing overwhelming emotions like worry, anxiety, grief, and depression. She feels honored to be invited into her clients’ journey of processing traumatic events, learning to understand their past experiences, and discovering a new, more free sense of self.
Vee uses play therapy to help children and teens on their journey to authenticity and self-acceptance, supporting LGBTQ+ and neurodivergent children and teens, who navigate challenges such as anxiety, depression, social or sensory differences, disordered eating, and minority stress.
Maddie is a counselor in Richmond Virginia who helps adults, teens and kids to overcome challenges, heal and build meaning in their lives.
Emma focuses on creating a genuine, caring connection where clients can feel safe and supported. She is humbled to partner with kids, teens, and adults as they undergo their unique counseling journey. She is a child therapist and provides play therapy. Emma also works with adults, helping them overcome depression, anxiety, and overwhelming stress.
Kate, child therapy, uses play therapy, art, and creative ways to help kids, teens, and families overcome stress and feel happier.
Mark helps adults find their way when life becomes overwhelming. He specializes LGBTQ+ issues, relationships, and finding life balance.