- relational style
- eclectic approach
- practical steps
About Ryan
Ryan Sommers is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in Indiana with 11 years of experience. He works with adults on common concerns such as anxiety, depression, grief, relationship struggles, ADHD, parenting strain, and anger. He also supports people facing career stress, life transitions, trauma and abuse, eating concerns, intimacy issues, and self-esteem problems.
Ryan’s background includes work in community mental health and university counseling services. Those roles gave him experience with a wide range of situations and ages, and with practical, everyday problems. He draws on that experience when talking through what’s happening now and what could change.
His approach is described as relational, interactive, and eclectic. He listens first, seeks to understand how a person makes sense of their life, and then helps them notice options and next steps. He frames counseling as a collaborative process where the client stays in control of decisions.
Sessions focus on identifying manageable steps and testing changes in real life. That can mean practicing new ways to speak up, trying different coping strategies for anger or anxiety, or shifting routines that add stress. Sessions are practical and straightforward, aimed at reducing repeated clashes, built-up resentment, or sudden outbursts.
Ryan writes that taking the first step can feel courageous and vulnerable. He is prepared to listen and help people put chosen changes into practice without telling them what to do.
How evidence-based techniques translate to online sessions
Ryan describes his approach as relational and eclectic, and he works from evidence-based therapeutic techniques. One common technique involves problem-focused skill work where the therapist and client practice specific coping strategies for anger and anxiety, such as breathing, grounding, and communication exercises that can be rehearsed between sessions. This helps when frustration builds at work or during tense interactions with others.Another useful method is behavioral activation - identifying small, concrete actions to shift mood and routine. This approach targets depression, low motivation, and the buildup of resentment by breaking problems into do-able steps and checking what actually changes. A third element often used is structured talk with collaborative planning, where the therapist helps the client name patterns, consider alternatives, and try different responses in daily life.
Finding the right mix of techniques is part of the work. He will help the client decide together which methods fit their goals, needs, and preferences, and adjust those choices over time. The client stays in control of which steps to try and when.
Because session formats were not specified in the original biography, confirm current online session options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and avoid travel time, which often helps people sustain regular sessions and practice new skills between meetings.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Experience
11+ years
Listed in
Indiana
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does he address?
He works with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, relationship concerns, parenting strain, anger, ADHD, and related life transitions.
How would he describe his therapy style?
He uses a relational, interactive, and eclectic style, listening first and then helping clients identify steps they want to take.
How long has he been practicing?
He has 11 years of experience working in community mental health and university counseling services.
What credential does he hold and where is he based?
He is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) licensed in Indiana and practices from that state.
Does he offer sessions in languages other than English?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work with him?
International clients are not currently accepted.
What session formats are available?
Please confirm current session options before booking since the original biography does not list specific formats.
How are fees handled and how do I begin?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time. To start, select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.