Ruth Emerson, MSW, LISW-S

I am a Licensed Independent Social Worker (Supervisor) with more than 25 years of experience in treating and counseling clients, and I am trained in several specialty areas including mental health, substance abuse, trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder, and end of life issues.  I utilize an eclectic approach and incorporate evidence-based practices such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness, Solution Focused Therapy, Motivational Interviewing and Existential Theories into the work I do. However, those therapies only work when a client feels safe, respected, and heard.

You will always receive “unconditional positive regard”, (Carl Rogers), when you are with me. Embedded in my approach is the belief that everyone has within them the ability to connect to the wholeness of themselves and to transcend the hand that life has dealt them. My role is to stand behind them and help them navigate to that place of healing. This happens because I start where my clients are. I listen deeply and seek to understand. There is never judgement in my office. Only respect and compassion are offered.
 

My career has exposed me to a variety of practice areas. Following graduate school I began working in community mental health as a therapist for individuals with mental illness as well as addiction. In total I have spent eight years working in this field as both a clinician and as a clinical director. I then worked with survivors of sexual and intimate partner violence in the Delaware community, and then with adolescent boys in residential care. My work also took me to Los Angeles, where I was the director of a crisis response team in Beverly Hills and then the director of a mental health team in the Skid Row area. When I returned to Ohio, I worked with a hospice team helping families experiencing end of life issues.  At two different points including the present time I have worked for universities, where I enjoy mentoring and teaching new social workers the key social work values of compassion, nonjudgement and deep listening.

I am excited to be part of this practice and I am looking forward to meeting you!