Ruth Anthony-McClary , LCSW

Ruth Anthony-McClary is a licensed clinical social worker with three decades of experience helping people manage stress, mood concerns, trauma, and everyday challenges. She focuses on practical steps clients can take to feel steadier and more in control. Ruth meets people where they are and treats them with respect and compassion.

Her approach is conversational and goal-oriented. Sessions start by listening to what matters most to the person and then setting small, doable goals. Ruth uses tools from cognitive behavioral therapy to change unhelpful thinking, attachment-based ideas to look at relationship patterns, and mindfulness to build present-moment skills.

Ruth draws on 30 years of clinical social work in New Jersey to adapt methods to each person’s life. She explains options simply and tailors plans to fit work, family, and other responsibilities. The work can include short-term coaching for specific problems or longer-term support for deeper patterns.

Typical concerns she helps people with include anxiety, depression, grief, relationship and intimacy issues, parenting stress, burnout, and coping with major life changes. She also addresses more specific issues such as body image, adoption and foster care concerns, caregiver stress, and chronic illness challenges.

Sessions are offered in English and use a format chosen with the client - phone, video, live chat, or text messaging. Ruth emphasizes collaboration, so goals and techniques change as progress is made. Taking the first step is often the hardest part, and she aims to make that step clearer and more manageable.

How her approaches translate to online therapy

Attachment-based work looks at how early relationships shape current patterns, helping people notice how they connect and respond in close relationships and try new ways of relating. Client-centered therapy emphasizes an empathic, nonjudgmental conversation where the client’s goals lead each session and the therapist reflects and supports rather than directs. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) focuses on spotting unhelpful thoughts and testing new behaviors to reduce anxiety or low mood in everyday life.

Finding the best approach is part of the process. Ruth collaborates with each person to choose techniques that fit their needs, goals, and comfort. She adjusts methods over time so the work stays relevant and useful rather than rigid.

Online formats offer practical benefits. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation when meeting in person is difficult. Phone sessions can be a good option when bandwidth is limited or a quick check-in works better. Live chat and text-based messaging make it easier to share brief updates or to fit support into a busy day. These options make it simpler to keep therapy consistent while balancing work, family, and other commitments.