New Leaf Counseling
About Me
Hi, I'm Ruth!
I’m a Florida therapist, former paramedic, plant collector, and accidental cat mom to three cats the universe apparently decided I needed. I have a small army of monsteras, love hiking and being outside, and recently added paddle boarding to the list. I was also homeschooled, so please excuse me if I miss a few pop culture references.
A big reason I’m passionate about religious trauma, spiritual abuse, purity culture, and faith deconstruction is because I have my own history with high-control religion. I grew up in a religious environment where the expectations for women were clear: homemade dresses, head coverings, rigid gender roles, and submission to men.
Leaving was hard. Finding a therapist who really understood the world I came from was harder than I expected. I didn’t want to spend half of therapy explaining the system before I could even talk about how it affected me.
Then came faith deconstruction. As beliefs that once gave me certainty, identity, and a roadmap for life began to shift, I had to figure out what I actually believed, what still mattered to me, and who I was when the old answers no longer fit.
My own experiences are part of why I care so much about creating a space where you don’t have to convince me that religious harm can run deep. You can bring the doubt, grief, anger, relief, questions, and the parts of faith that may still matter to you. I’m not here to give you another set of rules or decide where you should land. I’m here to help you make sense of what happened, rebuild trust in yourself, and figure out what you want your life to look like now.
Before becoming a therapist, I worked as a paramedic, so I also understand first responder culture from the inside and some of the unique pressures women in that world can carry. That background still shapes how I show up in therapy: warm, grounded, practical, and comfortable with the messy stuff. And yes, cussing is absolutely welcome in my therapy room.
I’m a Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern (IMH29407) practicing under the supervision of Brittany Doran, LMHC (MH25165), and Alicia McCray, LMFT (MT4211). That means I’ve completed my master’s degree and the requirements to provide therapy in Florida while receiving ongoing clinical supervision on the way to full licensure.
My approach is person-centered, trauma-informed, and integrative. I don’t believe there’s one “right” way to do therapy, so I pull from approaches like CBT, DBT, somatic work, and other evidence-based practices based on what fits you best. Your experiences, values, needs, and autonomy stay at the center of our work.
You Don’t Have to do This Alone
Though my specific lived experience is probably different from yours, I understand that finding a way forward is rarely straightforward. There can be twists, turns, grief, relief, uncertainty, and plenty of “I have no idea what I’m doing” moments along the way.
When religion has shaped how you see yourself, your relationships, your choices, and the life you thought you were supposed to build, questioning or leaving parts of it can affect almost everything.
If you’re looking for a therapist who understands religious trauma, spiritual abuse, purity culture, high-control religion, or faith deconstruction, I’d be honored to support you as you sort through what happened and figure out what comes next.
