Meet Ivy Ruths

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ivy Ruths.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Ivy. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My story is one in which I wear lots of different hats. I am a (single) mom to the most precious seven year old — my all-time favorite hat to wear! I juggle this with my full-time job as a school psychologist, running a part-time private practice, board member, being a daughter, a girlfriend, a sister, and a friend.

I became a single mom in 2015; my daughter was three when I had to start learning to balance graduate school requirements and keeping a toddler alive! At the same time, my father was diagnosed with throat cancer. He underwent both radiation and chemotherapy before eventually having a tumor surgically removed and a tracheotomy performed. It is not lost on me that during this very dark and difficult time in my life that my friends and family were the literal hands and feet of God for me. They fed me when it became clear that my weight loss was stress-related. They sat around tables in coffee shops, restaurants, and my living room helping me run statistics for my dissertation. They helped me hang curtains, sent me cookies on Valentine’s Day and flowers on Mother’s Day, and invited me to their own family dinners and into their homes. They took turns sitting in hospital waiting rooms with me. They kept me alive. By the grace of God and A LOT of help from my family and friends, I completed my Ph.D. — which of course has opened so many doors for me. I was completely humbled and became courageous in my ability to ask for help. These experiences added depth and color to my life story, which has, in turn, made me a much more empathetic and compassionate clinician.

I always knew I wanted to work with children — I had no idea how much I would love working with young adults and parents too. I thought I wanted to be a pediatrician, but in high school took an Introduction to Psychology course and the rest is history. I attended the University of Texas at Austin where I double majored in Psychology and English. I earned my PhD. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Houston in 2015 and have experience working in a hospital, school, and community health services settings.

A little over two years ago, I left a job I loved (as a therapist at the acclaimed Houston OCD Program) for a position at a school that I was afraid would send my career on a massive detour. I could not be happier or more grateful that I took such a huge leap of faith. I needed a position where I could be as available as possible to my daughter – for both her and my quality of life. Branching out in this way gave me the incredible opportunity to start my own practice – which I am so very proud to say is fulfilling and completely thriving two years later. My practice allows me to be a witness to how faith, hard work, and a strong partnership with patients can truly change lives.

Has it been a smooth road?
Of course not! Nothing good comes easy. There were days when the only reason I got up was because a child was depending on me to feed her. I will be ever grateful for the life-saving gift of being my daughter’s mother. There have been many learning curves — all of the applications required when starting a business, learning how to submit quarterly taxes, making my own website, designing business cards, and writing my own therapy consent forms — the little details at times felt insurmountable. People always say to take one day at a time; there were certainly days where I was operating one hour at a time.

If you find yourself in a dark place or are struggling to stay afloat, I urge you to seek out refuge from friends, families, and professionals. You don’t have to do it alone. And please, please remember to check on your “strong” friends. They can’t do it alone either.

We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I am currently working as a middle school psychologist and have a part-time private practice where I specialize and am an expert in treating anxiety disorders, depression, obsessive-compulsive and related disorders, life-transitions, and parent-management training. I work really well with children, teens, and young adults and also love working with individuals who are going through a tough life transition. I use primarily Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and elements of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy when working with anxiety or depression and Exposure and Response Prevention when treating OCD. I utilize evidence-based practices so everything I do is research-based and backed by science. I am currently serving as the Vice President of OCD Texas board and often work through my fear of public speaking by speaking at national conferences, which I have grown to love!

I think what sets me apart from others is my commitment to the therapeutic relationship. I believe that part of what motivates patients to work hard is my relationship with them and them knowing that I am rooting for them, one hundred percent on their side, and truly care about their well-being and success in treatment. I love what I do. I love forming relationships with people and helping them meet their goals.

Further, I can relate to my patients. I know what a panic attack feels like. I know what postpartum depression feels like. Anxiety has a strong genetic component and runs rampant in my family. I know what it feels like to go through an unexpected and difficult life transition. I have been in the trenches and fought my way back into living a life I am proud of and excited about and love helping others do the same.

Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I am Puerto Rican-Nigerian born in Houston and raised in Sugar Land. I have lived inside the loop for the last 11 years so whether it’s downtown or in the suburbs, I can say I love everything about Houston. Nothing beats the diversity – the people, the food, the activities. I love walking around Hermann Park and hearing all sorts of different languages being spoken. I can eat at a Puerto Rican restaurant on a Thursday, lick my fingers after BBQ on a Friday (shout out to Feges’ BBQ in Greenway Plaza), eat at a Nigerian restaurant on a Saturday, and have my favorite Tex-Mex queso and margaritas (Original Ninfa’s on Navigation wins in my book, every time) on Sunday. The museums, all the new green space, the nightlife — I am enthralled by all of it.

I don’t like that the rest of the country does not give us credit where credit is due… Houston is awesome.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.drivyruths.com
• Email: drivyruths@drivyruths.com
• Instagram: @drivyruths
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrIvyRuths

Image Credit:
Marci Freeman – Three Peas Photography

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