Ryan Forbes, LCMHC

Ryan Forbes is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) who emphasizes practical, goal-focused work. He uses straightforward methods to help people manage stress, anxiety, mood concerns, and relationship or intimacy-related struggles. Ryan believes clients bring important strengths to the room and focuses on building on those strengths. Ryan draws on about ten years of counseling experience and a long career in related work. He offers clear, down-to-earth guidance for issues like depression, bipolar mood concerns, ADHD, grief, and compassion fatigue. He also helps with communication problems, impulsivity, anger, and finding life purpose. His style blends Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with client-centered conversations and elements from dialectical behavior therapy and mindfulness. Sessions often include practical exercises, skill-building, and real-world steps clients can try between meetings. The aim is steady improvement rather than quick fixes. Ryan also supports people dealing with parenting stress, caregiver strain, abandonment and attachment issues, guilt or shame, and men’s issues. He pays attention to how relationships and life transitions affect mood and behavior and helps people make manageable changes. Originally raised in Nevada and with family ties to New Zealand and England, Ryan practices in Utah. He approaches work with respect for each person’s story and focuses on collaboration, clear goals, and usable tools. He encourages anyone ready to try a different path to explore therapy as a practical step forward.

Practical approaches for online therapy and skills work

Ryan often uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help identify unhelpful thinking and shift behaviors that keep problems going. CBT is useful for anxiety, depression, stress, and many mood-related patterns because it breaks concerns into steps that can be practiced between sessions.

He also draws on client-centered therapy, which focuses on listening, respect, and helping people find their own answers. That approach supports motivation, self-esteem work, and conversations about life purpose. Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills are used when emotional regulation, impulsivity, or strong reactions get in the way; those skills teach concrete ways to manage intense feelings and improve communication.

Finding the right mix of approaches happens together. The therapist will hear what matters most, set goals with the client, and try methods that fit personal needs and preferences. If something isn’t helping, changes are made so sessions stay practical and relevant.

Online options include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video is useful for full sessions that mirror in-person meetings. Phone can work when bandwidth is limited or for brief check-ins. Live chat and text messaging let people touch base between appointments or use shorter, written check-ins when that format fits a schedule better.