- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
- Client-Centered approach
- Psychodynamic ideas
About James
Dr. James Ruby is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) with 22 years of clinical experience based in Hawaii. He works with people facing relationship strain, anxiety, depression, grief, addiction concerns, and the pressures common in early adulthood such as career choices, identity, and life transitions.
James draws on a mix of approaches to keep sessions practical and focused. He uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help people notice what matters and take steps toward those values. He combines this with client-centered work that treats the person as the expert on their life, and psychodynamic ideas to look at how the past shows up now.
Sessions include straightforward conversations about thoughts, feelings, and behavior. He may suggest short exercises or questionnaires to track progress between meetings. He avoids jargon and aims for clear, usable steps people can try in daily life.
People come to him for help with family and parenting stress, workplace problems, relationship and intimacy issues, and caregiver or hospice-related concerns. He also supports men navigating fatherhood, forgiveness, and isolation. Young adult issues are a named focus, so he is familiar with pressures like leaving home, early career stress, and feeling behind peers.
James invites questions up front and encourages prospective clients to consider fit. He emphasizes collaborative work on goals rather than quick fixes. Those interested in starting are asked to follow the site’s online intake to match and schedule a first session.
How his approaches translate to online work
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy helps people clarify what really matters and build small, practical steps toward those values. Online sessions can focus on noticing thoughts and trying new behaviors between meetings. Client-Centered Therapy centers the person's perspective and relies on open conversation; online meetings can keep that same honest, person-led tone while using short exercises when they help.Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will talk with the client about goals, preferences, and how they like to work, then recommend methods to try. That decision is collaborative and can change over time if something isn’t a good fit.
The biography does not list specific session formats, so confirm which options are available before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life - for example a shorter check-in during a lunch break, a phone call when video isn't convenient, or a video meeting without travel time. These practical benefits help people keep therapy consistent while managing study, work, or caregiving responsibilities.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
22+ years
Listed in
Hawaii, Iowa
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does he help with?
He works with relationship problems, anxiety, depression, grief, addiction issues, and challenges common in young adulthood such as career choices and identity.
What is his therapeutic style like?
He blends Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, client-centered conversations, and psychodynamic ideas for practical, down-to-earth sessions that include exercises when helpful.
How long has he been practicing?
He has 22 years of experience working with individuals, couples, and families since 1998.
What are his credentials and where is he based?
He is an LMHC licensed in Iowa and Hawaii and practices from Hawaii.
Can I work with him if I live outside the US?
He accepts international clients and conducts sessions in English.
What session formats are offered?
Session formats were not specified in the biography; please confirm the current online session options before booking.
How is pricing handled?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What do I need to do to start?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy through BetterHelp is for adults aged 18 and over and is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the emergency numbers. Find someone else by name.