Elizabeth Ruggiero PhD

About

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) with licenses in Arkansas, Colorado, and Missouri. I hold a PhD in Marriage and Family Therapy with a specialization in Systemic Therapy from the University of Louisiana at Monroe (2007), following a Master’s degree in Counseling and Marriage and Family Therapy (2004). With 24 years of clinical experience, I bring deep expertise in relationship dynamics and systemic approaches. I have provided high-stakes clinical care and consultation for elite federal institutions, including the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Department of Justice (DoJ), working with military personnel and federal agencies. My style is direct, warm, and creative. I don’t draw sessions out for billing purposes — I speak transparent truth on behalf of the relationship and work efficiently toward meaningful change.

Areas of expertise

• Anger Management
• Coping Skills
• Depression
• Divorce
• Family Conflict
• Life Coaching
• Life Transitions
• Parenting
• Peer Relationships
• Relationship Issues
• School Issues
• Self Esteem
• Trauma and PTSD
• Grief
• Stress Management
• Anxiety

Types of therapy

• Acceptance and Commitment (ACT)Helps people make room for difficult thoughts and feelings instead of fighting them, and commit to actions that fit what matters to them.
• Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)A structured, practical therapy that looks at how thoughts, feelings and actions affect each other, and teaches skills for changing unhelpful thinking and habits.
• Mindfulness-Based (MBCT)Combines mindfulness practice, paying attention to the present moment without judgment, with ideas from cognitive therapy.
• Trauma FocusedTherapy for people affected by trauma. Puts safety and pacing first, and helps process painful memories so they have less hold on daily life.
• Solution Focused Brief (SFBT)A short-term, goal-focused approach that spends less time on problems and more on what already works and the small steps toward what the person wants.
• HumanisticA family of approaches, including person-centered and Gestalt therapy, that emphasize growth, self-awareness and a person's capacity to choose.
• InterpersonalA structured, time-limited therapy focused on relationships and life events, such as conflict, loss or big role changes, and how they affect mood.
• Experiential TherapyUses activities such as role-play, movement, art or guided imagery to work through feelings in the moment, not only to talk about them.
• EFT and Gottman

Education & qualifications