Diane DeRuyter, LMHC, LPC

Diane DeRuyter is a licensed mental health counselor who helps people manage stress, anxiety, addictions, anger, and low self-esteem. She works with adults facing life transitions, ADHD concerns, and issues related to LGBT identity. Diane encourages people to take practical steps toward feeling better and more in control.

Diane creates a calm, nonjudgmental space where people can talk about what’s on their mind. She focuses on concrete skills and simple behavior changes that fit into everyday life. Sessions are meant to be collaborative; clients set goals and Diane helps map small, realistic steps to reach them.

Her approach draws on cognitive behavioral therapy to spot unhelpful thinking patterns and ACT to clarify values and committed actions. She also uses client-centered methods to keep conversations grounded in each person’s priorities, and DBT skills for emotion regulation when needed.

With nine years of experience, Diane has worked with people dealing with addictions, panic, phobias, and social anxiety as well as communication problems and life-purpose questions. She also brings experience related to aging and autism spectrum concerns alongside co-occurring conditions.

Diane holds LMHC and LPC credentials and practices in New York. Sessions are offered in English and are available through video, phone, live chat, or text messaging. She encourages people to reach out when they are ready to start making changes.

Therapeutic approaches for online sessions

CBT, or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, helps people notice and change thinking patterns that make stress and anxiety worse. It focuses on practical tools and short-term behavior changes that are easy to practice between sessions.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, emphasizes clarifying personal values and taking actions that align with those values. This approach helps when someone feels stuck or uncertain about what matters most, and it pairs well with skill work to manage difficult emotions.

Client-centered therapy keeps the conversation focused on the person in front of the therapist. It emphasizes listening, empathy, and tailoring sessions to the client’s goals and pace. Diane blends this with CBT and ACT so sessions stay practical and grounded in each person’s priorities.

Finding the right fit is a shared process. Diane will talk with clients about their goals, try approaches that suit their needs, and adjust as things change. That collaborative search helps shape a therapy plan that feels useful and realistic.

Online therapy offers flexibility for people with busy lives. Video calls let therapists observe tone and expressions, while phone sessions can work when bandwidth is low or when someone prefers not to be on camera. Live chat and text messaging are useful for brief check-ins, homework support, or day-to-day tracking of goals. These options make it easier to fit therapy into work, school, or caregiving schedules and to use skills in real time.