Ruth MacBain, LCPC, LCMHC
Therapist focused on recovery and life stories
Details
| Name | Ruth MacBain |
|---|---|
| Credentials | LCPC, LCMHC |
| Based in | New Hampshire |
| Licensed in | New Hampshire, Maine |
| Session format | Online |
| Languages | English |
| Years in practice | 11 |
About Ruth
Ruth MacBain is a licensed counselor with eleven years of clinical experience. She holds LCPC in Maine and LCMHC in New Hampshire and brings practical care to people facing stress, anxiety, addiction, and major life changes. Ruth writes in clear, direct terms and focuses on what people want to change now.
Her background includes work in residential treatment and integrated care for co-occurring disorders. That experience shaped how she blends talking therapies with strategies that support recovery from drug and alcohol problems.
Background and approach
She has run groups that combine cognitive approaches with motivational techniques used for substance use concerns. Ruth uses Narrative Therapy alongside client-centered and cognitive behavioral methods. She helps people tell the story of their lives differently and find new ways to act within those stories.
Sessions are collaborative and paced to match each person's goals and readiness. She also draws on elements of dialectical behavior therapy and Jungian ideas when they fit a client's needs. These approaches add tools for emotional regulation and for naming patterns that feel stuck or repetitive.
Ruth pays attention to attachment, abandonment, and intimacy-related issues when those themes come up. Outside of work she volunteers with adaptive sports and supports people with autism and disability-related challenges. She enjoys hiking, biking, and swimming and brings a down-to-earth style to sessions.
Ruth practices in New Hampshire and conducts sessions in English.
What this therapist works with
Her listing names Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Self esteem among the things Ruth works with, alongside the areas below.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Addictions
- Self esteem
- Depression
- Compassion fatigue
- Family conflicts
- Trauma and abuse
- Grief
- Intimacy-related issues
- Eating disorders
- Coping with life changes
- Abandonment
- Attachment issues
- Divorce and separation
- Drug and alcohol addiction
- Prejudice and discrimination
Approaches listed
- Narrative Therapy: Named in her listing among her approaches.
- Client-Centered Therapy: Listed by Ruth among the ways she works.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Listed by Ruth among the ways she works.
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Listed by Ruth among the ways she works.
- Jungian Therapy: Listed by Ruth among the ways she works.
- Motivational Interviewing: Listed by Ruth among the ways she works.
- Training stated: This directory copies the approaches a therapist names and does not check training records. Ask Ruth directly how much of the work is narrative and what a session usually looks like.
Narrative Therapy in this listing
Narrative Therapy appears in this therapist's own list of approaches. That tells you it is part of how she works. It does not tell you how much of a session it shapes, and this directory does not check or rate training.
If a narrative approach is what you are looking for, it is worth asking Ruth directly how she uses it and what a session usually looks like.
Online session options
How narrative and practical approaches work online
Ruth uses Narrative Therapy to help people retell the stories that shape their choices and feelings, guiding them to notice patterns and try new scripts. Client-Centered Therapy is also a core part of her work, offering a supportive space where the person's goals lead the direction of sessions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) provides practical tools for changing unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, which can be useful for anxiety, depression, and addiction concerns.Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the process. Ruth works collaboratively to identify what fits a person's needs, goals, and preferences. She checks in about what is working and adjusts methods over time so therapy stays useful and relevant.
Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, which make it easier to fit sessions into busy lives. Video is good for face-to-face conversation and visual cues, phone calls can be a quicker check-in or help when bandwidth is low, and messaging suits short updates or when people prefer not to be on camera. These options offer flexibility while keeping the focus on practical change and steady progress.
Common questions about this listing
What issues does Ruth commonly help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, addictions, grief, trauma, and eating concerns. She also pays attention to intimacy issues, compassion fatigue, and coping with life changes.
What is her general therapy style?
Ruth uses a collaborative, client-centered style that combines narrative work with practical skills. She aims to help people reframe their stories and build steps they can try between sessions.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 11 years of professional experience, including work in residential treatment and integrated care for co-occurring disorders.
What credentials and location are listed?
Ruth holds LCPC in Maine and LCMHC in New Hampshire and practices in New Hampshire.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the country work with her?
International clients are not currently accepted; she works with clients located in the region she is licensed to serve.
What session formats are available?
Ruth offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to fit different schedules and needs.
How are costs and scheduling handled?
Session costs vary by location and therapist availability and use a subscription that can be canceled at any time. To begin, select Start Therapy, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule based on availability.
Contacting this therapist
Sessions with Ruth are arranged through our partner platform. It asks a few questions about what you are looking for, then shows you the therapists available to you, including Ruth where she has space. Ask about fees, and whether she holds a licence or registration where you live.
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