Nik Ruthless, LCMHC

If you’re looking for a therapist who won’t pathologize your struggles or pretend to have all the solutions—but will support and challenge you in equal measure—let’s talk.

You might feel pressure to hide things about yourself, because people around you don’t want them to be true.  
I know how important fitting in can be, and how crushing it can be to always feel out of place.  

In my life I’ve moved over 30 times, and I’ve lived all over the United States (including Alaska!) Perpetually being “the new kid” meant I got really good at meeting and exceeding people’s expectations. For me, fitting in meant success. I was great at making friends, I excelled in school, and I was always down to try new hobbies and learn about what other people were into.

It also meant that sometimes I would feel lost, like even though things were going “right” for me all the time I didn’t really feel like I was getting anywhere in life. I was an empathetic friend, a high-achieving student, an attentive partner, and a supportive sibling and child. But something was missing. 

Eventually I started to figure out that realizing achievements and dreams only matter when they’re actually your dreams to start with. I had a lot of ambition and love to give, but I did some serious work to parse out my own hopes/dreams/goals, and what were just others’ expectations. 
I love working with people on this very same journey.  

Once we know who we are and who we want to be, it is much easier to chart a rewarding path.

Therapy is about creating space to untangle what’s holding you back, so you can move forward with clarity and confidence. My approach is direct but compassionate, grounded in evidence-based practice while leaving room for the complexities of being human.

If you’re looking for a therapist who won’t pathologize your struggles or pretend to have all the solutions—but will support and challenge you in equal measure—let’s talk.