Douglass Ruth (he/him) is the Clinical Director at Jewish Family & Child Service. He started at JFCS in 2010, with a focus on providing counseling and support to underserved populations. In his current role as Clinical Director, Doug supervises mental health counselors and provides individual, couples, and group counseling. Doug is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), obtaining his MSW from Smith College School of Social Work in 2006, and has been involved in mental health counseling and social work for the past 10 years.
Before actively pursuing social work, Doug obtained his BA in Public Policy from Duke University. After graduating in 2000, working as a community organizer, policy developer, and technology consultant, Doug was drawn to the full spectrum of his clients’ needs. In gaining a fuller understanding of how one’s life experience and social environment influences health, emotional needs, and relationships, Doug was drawn to the unique person-centered view of social work.
Prior to joining JFCS, Doug worked in a variety of settings with a wide range of populations, including inpatient and outpatient medical facilities. Doug also spent time working intensively with families and children in the Portland area, helping support their mental health and behavioral goals.
At its core, therapy is a personal journey built on the relationship between counselor and client. Trust and empathy are the hallmarks of the work we do. Because we all have different wants and needs, Doug tailors his therapeutic approach to accommodate each individual’s experience and identity, and treatment modalities are not set in stone. Doug offers Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), psychodynamic approaches, mindfulness, Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), and Solution Focused Therapy (SFBT). Clients inform the process of therapy and develop their own insights and strategies that lead to lasting change in their lives.
In his spare time, Doug enjoys examining his community and the greater world through travel and exploration.
