Ryan Woods

Meet Ryan Woods

Ryan Woods, LPC-A

I received my training to become a counselor at Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon, where I completed my master’s degree in August of 2021. My goal as a counselor is to help adults, adolescents, and children by providing a space to be heard, process life’s challenges, and develop the necessary skills to thrive mentally, physically, and spiritually. My overall approach to therapy involves cognitive behavioral methods (exploring one’s thoughts and beliefs relative to emotions and behaviors), as well as narrative therapy (engaging personal stories that view people as separate from their problems). I view counseling as a collaborative effort in helping clients to recognize strengths, identify needs, understand conflicts, discover new options, set personal development goals, and make informed choices. In addition to helping people face the demands of adulthood, I also have a passion for being a positive influence in the lives of young people. Over the years, I have worked with children as a mentor in a non-profit organization and as a volunteer in youth and family ministry settings. In a clinical context, I have been trained in adolescent counseling as well as play therapy.

When I was seventeen years old, I dealt with challenges of my own and experienced firsthand the blessing of competent mental health professionals while I was a patient in an adolescent treatment program. Little did I know at the time, I was being prepared me for a career in counseling so that I could serve others who experience similar challenges. In the summer of 2017 after working as a financial planner for six years, I decided to pursue a career in mental health. My wife Laura and I temporarily relocated from Texas to the Pacific Northwest, and in October 2019, we became a family of three. Now, all three of us are back in Texas and closer to family again. Our daughter Audrey has certainly kept us busy but has also been an incredible blessing in our lives. In our spare time, we try to enjoy the beautiful outdoors as much as possible.

If you or a loved one feel overwhelmed by life’s inevitable trials, I would be honored to assist you as you embark on your healing journey.

Want to get to know Ryan a little better? Here are 5 fun facts about him!

I was born in Louisiana and spent most of my early years in Kingwood, TX.

I lived in Trinidad & Tobago between the ages of 11 and 19.

My wife and I spent 3 and a half years in the Pacific NW and had our first child while living there.

My left thumb is double-jointed.

My wife and I both went to Texas A&M. Gig’em Aggies!

Credentials

Licensed Professional Counselor – Associate
National Certified Counselor (NCC)

Education

Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a Child & Youth Specialization, Western Seminary
Bachelor of Arts in Communication, Minor in Business Administration, Texas A&M University

Membership

American Counseling Association