Eric Ruffing Therapy, MA, LMFT C127256

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United States
Mission Viejo, CA
Eric Ruffing Therapy, MA, LMFT C127256

Are there problems that have you feeling stuck or challenged? Does stress, self-doubt, worry, or people get in the way of the life you hope for?

Eric Ruffing Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and clinical supervisor , Clinical Supervisor , Private Practice, and Pepperdine GSEP Adjunct Faculty. " Problems change the way you see yourself, your relationships, your future &
what you believe is possible."
- Eric Ruffing

How can I help you experience life the way you want it? Maybe, you’re tired of therapy that starts with trauma instead of what's possible? Are systems of power, justice, normativity, and colonization at the center of the problem? "The problem is the problem,the person is not the problem."
- Michael White & David Epston

My work as a therapist is grounded in the belief that no one is a problem, but rather problems are overwhelming your options right now. We start with where you want to be in life and what’s possible, even if you’re not sure.

You and I will investigate and challenge what the problems are doing to you, not pathologize and label you, or dig through attachment traumas. I use Narrative, Solution Focused therapies along with systemic, constructivist, decolonizing and contemplative lenses. Our sessions are about possibilities, empowerment, confidence, and trust. If you feel you have no choices, trapped by self-doubt, anxiety, societal norms, worry or feel overwhelmed we you might like version of therapy. I'll never judge you, your past, or your desires. You deserve respect, to be heard, & be in control of how you want to live. I'm inclusive, affirming & an ally to marginalized groups, supportive of all lifestyle preferences, spiritual choices & decolonizing practices.

If your current narrative is that you have no choices, feel overwhelmed, trapped by self-doubt, anxiety, or worry it's because of how problems operate on you, your behaviors are important but let's also investigate the problem from all sides. I'd like to help re-author those narratives and live in possibility, power, confidence, and ease. I help people experiencing problems such as:

Self-esteem
Anxiety
Stress
"Stuckness"
"Perfectionism"
Relational Issues
Societal Norms
Communication Conflicts
Career Transitions
Life Transitions (school, family, spiritual, sobriety)
Self Reflection
Existential Issues
Effects of colonization and power. Availability via telehealth only. Finding a therapist who you can connect with is important. Let's chat for 15 min and see if we may be right for each other? Please call or email me. I do not reply to DM's. https://www.ericruffingtherapy.com

07/15/2025

05/02/2025

https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/fundraising/e57a1913-e2ee-4fd9-bf08-3acc46262a79?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR4ZMQGuvm21L7haG30QSzaGKEEls_YnMtF0WN-IxPE8YzUR-6q4zw5_YOiBSw_aem_6cdlMxngndUojZEQPC7O_A

01/14/2025

09/03/2024

Always excited when a new semester starts! Tweaking syllabus for Couples and Family Therapy II courses

The person isn’t the problem, the problem is the problem. - White/Epston

04/25/2023

Questioning when, why, and how I can best include clients is a never ending reflective process.
Karl Tomm’ examinations of how to best counter pathology and provide ethical posturing are critical to my development and maintenance as a collaborative therapist.
-

“Reflex- ivity suggests counsellors invariably shape what gets attended to in counselling through what they orient to and inquire about as significant (Strong, 2005). So, Tomm began asking questions like: Who gets to decide what gets talked about in counselling? Whose descriptions and ideas should be the focus of counselling? Why should counselling occur with a focus on individuals? At worst, counsellors can pursue their emergent other-fulfilling prophecies as they talk with clients.”

-

04/15/2023

Love this quote.

02/28/2023

My new bio via chatGPT (if you don’t know it chatCPT is artificial intelligence) How did it know so much about me 🙂 Would you consult with this Eric?

Eric: Write something about why Eric is a narrative therapist

chatGPT:

“Eric became a narrative therapist because he strongly believed in the power of personal storytelling to transform individuals' lives. He had always been fascinated by how people's experiences and the stories they tell themselves can shape their sense of self and their view of the world.

As a young adult, Eric experienced his own personal struggles, and through therapy, he discovered the power of narrative therapy. He was impressed by how the approach helped him to reframe his experiences and create a new narrative about himself and his life.

Eric realized that he wanted to help others experience the same transformative power of narrative therapy. He pursued training and education in the field, learning techniques and strategies to help individuals create new, more empowering narratives for themselves.

As a narrative therapist, Eric brings a deep empathy and compassion to his work with clients. He understands that each person's story is unique and complex, and he is skilled at helping them explore their experiences and identify the underlying themes and patterns that may be impacting their sense of self and their relationships.

Eric also believes in the importance of collaboration and partnership in the therapeutic process. He sees his clients as experts in their own lives, and he works with them to co-create a new narrative that is grounded in their values, strengths, and aspirations.

Ultimately, Eric is a narrative therapist because he believes in the power of personal storytelling to heal and transform individuals, families, and communities. He is committed to helping his clients find their own voice and create a new, more positive narrative that can guide them to a more fulfilling and meaningful life.”

11/12/2022

It’s not self-care when you hurt your friend’s feelings.

Address

Mission Viejo, CA
92694

Telephone

+19495342604

Website

http://ericruffingtherapy.com/

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About Me

Problems create stories.

These stories change the way you see yourself, your relationships and your future.

Problems are THE PROBLEM, you're not the problem.

Hello. My name is Eric Ruffing. I help individuals & couples to focus on re-authoring how problems intersect with the their life,goals and preferences. So they can live out their dreams with more confidence, skills, self-esteem and pride.

Are feeling the effects of anxiety, guilt, depression, stress, worry, confusion, addictive thinking, unfairness and grief?

Are problems overwhelming you & your ability to achieve or see goals & dreams?

Have you done enough “trauma work” or scared and triggered by what that might mean?

Have you had therapists who didn't believe you, told you you had to change and you didn't feel heard and respected?

Would therapy that trusts you, believes in you and focuses on your positive qualities, strengths, morals, values, culture, lifestyle, goals + dreams sounds like a better approach?

If traditional & "trauma based" therapies aren't helping, not helping any longer, or aren't desired, I can offer your help that is different. I utilize narrative, post-modern, collaborative strength based theories and when preferred Buddhist dharma & experience that sees problems as problems, people are not problems.

My sessions respect who you are, are strength based, holistic & positive, not statistical medical theories that focus on what's wrong with you or me telling you what your doing wrong.

Our work together is a chance for you to reset yourself or your relationships in ways that supports + strengthens your dreams, creativity, individuality, wisdom, truth, joy & balance for your life.

If you identify as an introvert, individualist, creator, traveler, entrepreneur, BIPOC, lgtbq+, musician, writer, seeker, gifted, contemplative, athlete, nerd, outlier, performer, designer, artist, gamer... & "Problems" have you experiencing the effects of stress, life transitions, anxiety, self-esteem, relational issues, societal discourse I'd love to be of help.

If you see things differently, so should your therapist. I don't see you as damaged, a problem or broken, but as caught in "The Problems" web of stories, beliefs, habits, patterns & systems (societal, educational, family, professional, patriarchal, business & medical). Through Post-Modern, Narrative & contemplative theory we can take the balance of power away from "The Problems"

Feel free to reach out to me for a free 15min chat to see if we are compatible and a good fit.

May you be free from pain, experience joy, and prosper in your life.

Warmly,

Eric

949-534-2604

https://www.ericruffingtherapy.com

https://www.instagram.com/ericruffingtherapy/

https://www.shantioc.org/about-us/staff/

*More about how I work:

My theoretical education, orientation & methods are supported by post-modern theories: Narrative therapy, Collaborative therapy,Contemplative therapy, and meditation (if desired). What does this mean?

Simply stated post-modern theory believes there is more to you and your life than just a diagnosis. That traditional Western psychology over medicalizes your concerns, imposes power over you, and supports debilitating comparison of what mental health "should" look like.

In Collaborative therapy is the maintaining an equal relationship between a person in therapy and their therapist, sharing discussions that facilitates dialogues that lead to positive change.

With Narrative therapy problems are seen as separate from people and acknowledges people have many skills, competencies, beliefs, values, commitments and abilities that empower them them to change the influence of problems in their lives. Contemplative therapy brings in the therapeutic practice of blending the meditative techniques of Buddhism with the traditional psychotherapy.

You deserve respect, to be heard, & be in control of how you want to live.