Robin Rutan

Taking the first step toward counseling can feel difficult, and deciding to pursue something different often represents a significant portion of the work. Robin encourages people to recognize that choosing to prioritize their well-being is an important beginning and a step toward healing.

Robin Rutan is a licensed professional clinical counselor in Ohio with supervisory credentials and has two decades of experience providing counseling. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Social Work from The Ohio State University and a Master of Education in Allied Professionals (Clinical Counseling) from The University of Dayton.

Currently Robin works in an area school district providing mental health and substance use counseling for at-risk middle and high school students, a role she finds deeply rewarding. Before this, she provided intensive clinical services at a residential treatment program to teenagers with co-occurring disorders and complex trauma symptoms, including suicidal behaviors, self-harm, substance use, eating issues, emotional dysregulation, relationship instability, conduct reactivity, and risky sexual behavior. During that time she also led family therapy and offered supportive counseling to parents managing their children’s mental health challenges and disruptive behaviors.

Robin’s professional background also includes positions in psychiatric and substance abuse treatment facilities, work in private practice, and service in the public sector as a program administrator. She draws from a range of evidence-based clinical approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Integrated Family and Systems Theory (IFAST).

In session, Robin integrates creative tools like art, writing, journaling, music, and homework assignments when appropriate. Her approach emphasizes client strengths over problem-focused perspectives and she works collaboratively at each person’s pace, operating from the belief that clients are their own best resource. Years of work with challenging cases and crisis-driven settings have strengthened her ability to build rapport quickly, think creatively, and implement trauma-informed interventions aimed at interrupting problematic patterns.

If Robin’s background aligns with a person’s needs, she welcomes outreach and is open to working with those ready to begin therapy.