Ruth Vanstone is a Doctoral Associate at Laksman Doell Psychology, who is finishing up the final stages of her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology in the Summer of 2025. She will be applying for registration as a Clinical and Health Psychologist in Supervised Practice with the College of Psychologists and Behaviour Analysts of Ontario in the Fall of 2025. Ruth’s area of specialization is in adult mental health, and she provides both individual and couples therapy. Ruth works with clients who present with a wide range of issues including anxiety, depression, trauma, adjustment to acute and chronic disease, caregiver distress, women’s health, and relationship concerns. Ruth has a particular passion for working with individuals, couples, and caregivers who are adjusting to and coping with chronic illness and cancer diagnoses in order to help navigate the range of related issues that arise in tandem with one’s journey through illness.

Ruth strives to create a warm and collaborative therapeutic environment that draws on the particular strengths of each individual and couple with whom she works. Her approach is integrative, using evidence-based therapies that fit with her client’s unique concerns to help develop the skills and confidence to work toward their therapeutic goals and to foster meaningful change. Ruth has been trained in several evidence-based psychotherapeutic approaches including Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Schema Therapy.

Ruth completed her Master’s and Doctoral degrees in Clinical Psychology at York University in Toronto. She has received clinical training in both community and hospital settings, including the Women’s Health Concerns Clinic and Insomnia Clinic at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, and the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. Ruth completed her predoctoral residency at Nova Scotia Health Authority with rotations in Chronic Pain, Transplant (kidney, liver, heart), and inpatient rehabilitation. Throughout her training, Ruth has remained committed to working with hospital and community partners in order to help increase access to care for vulnerable clients. Her research has focused on the development of online resources for young women, healthcare providers, and community organizations in order to better help individuals to navigate the perinatal period after breast cancer.