Robin Rutan

Hi! It’s not easy to take the first step to start the counseling process. Sometimes, just making the decision to do something different is half the battle. Be proud of yourself that you’ve made the decision to put yourself first and help yourself start to heal. Know that by taking this step, you already begun to improve your life…. I’m Robin and I’ve been providing counseling for over 25 years. I’m currently working in an area school district doing mental health and substance abuse counseling with at-risk high school and middle school students and I absolutely love my job! It is a refreshing change from working within the high level of care and crisis driven environment that I had worked in since I obtained my graduate degree. Previously, I worked at a residential treatment program. During that time, I provided intensive clinical services to teenagers with co-occurring disorders. They had complex trauma symptoms that displayed as suicidal behaviors, self-harm, promiscuity, substance use, eating issues, relationship instability, emotional dysregulation and conduct reactivity. I also facilitated family therapy and provided supportive counseling to parents who struggled due to their childrens’ mental health challenges or disruptive behaviors. In the past, I have also been employed at psychiatric and substance abuse treatment facilities, worked in the private practice setting, and worked in the public setting as a program administrator. I attended The Ohio State University and graduated with my Bachelor of Science Degree in Social Work. I obtained my Masters of Education in Allied Professionals Degree (Clinical Counseling) from The University of Dayton. I utilize a variety of clinical approaches including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, Motivational Interviewing and Integrated Family and Systems Theory (IFAST). I incorporate art, writing, journaling, music and other homework assignments in counseling. Experience has taught me that it is more important to focus on client strengths than be problem focused to work collaboratively with you in order to help you bring about your desired change. My goal is and go at your pace. I believe that you are your best resource. Working with challenging individuals and coping with ongoing crisis ridden situations has taught me how to build rapport quickly, how to think outside of the box, and how to develop creative and trauma-informed interventions that will bring about your desired change. Over the years that I have done therapy, I have realized that there is really no real mystery to it. I believe it is a process that is about creating a safe space, during which there is listening with respect, validating others’ feelings and identifying behavioral patterns so that these problematic cycles can be interrupted. If my background matches your needs, please reach out. I’d love to work with you.