- Values focused
- Practical steps
- Respectful listening
About James
Dr. James Ruby uses talk-based approaches to help people handle stress at work and in life. He focuses on values, meaning, and practical steps. He draws on methods that center the client's experience and help them notice what matters. He practices with warmth and respect, and he invites questions before you begin.
With 22 years of experience, he helps people facing relationship strain, grief, anxiety, depression, addiction, and workplace issues. He also works with parenting concerns, caregiver stress, communication problems, and life transitions. He encourages people to name their goals and to try experiments between sessions to test what helps.
Dr. Ruby holds the LMHC credential and practices from Hawaii. He believes the past shapes you but does not have to define your future. In sessions he looks at feelings, thoughts, behavior, and meaning to create practical next steps that fit your life.
His approach often includes acceptance and commitment ideas, client-centered listening, and looking at life questions from an existential angle. He sometimes uses motivational interviewing and psychodynamic ideas to understand patterns and find motivation for change.
People can expect a respectful, nonjudgmental space that focuses on goals and daily life. He asks about results and adjusts work as needed, and he may suggest short exercises or reflections between appointments to keep progress moving.
How his approaches translate to online work
Dr. Ruby often uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and client-centered methods. ACT helps people notice painful thoughts and choose actions that match their values. It is useful for stress, anxiety, and deciding next steps at work or in relationships. Client-centered therapy emphasizes listening and supporting each person's perspective, which helps when someone needs a steady, empathetic space to sort things out.Finding the right approach is part of the work together. He will listen to your goals, try methods that fit your needs, and check in about what is helping. This is a collaborative process where adjustments are made based on how you respond and what feels workable in daily life.
Confirm the current session options before booking so you know how sessions will be scheduled. Online therapy can make it easier to fit appointments around work, reduce travel time, or allow shorter check-ins when needed. Many people find that working remotely lets them try focused exercises between meetings and practice skills in real time without rearranging their whole day.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
22+ years
Credentials
Hawaii, Iowa
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does Dr. Ruby address?
He helps people with relationship and family difficulties, grief, stress, anxiety, depression, addictions, and workplace issues. Additional areas include parenting, caregiver stress, communication problems, and questions about life purpose.
What is his therapeutic style like?
He combines acceptance and commitment ideas with client-centered listening and existential reflection. Sessions focus on values, practical steps, and short exercises to try between meetings.
How long has he practiced?
Dr. Ruby has 22 years of counseling experience working with individuals, couples, and families since 1998.
Where does he practice and what are his credentials?
He practices in Hawaii and holds the LMHC credential listed as IA LMHC and HI LMHC in his documentation.
Can sessions be conducted in other languages?
Sessions are offered in English.
Does he work with international clients?
He accepts international clients as part of his practice.
How is cost handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What are the first steps to begin?
Use the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.