Ru Johanson-Murray,MS, NCC

(they/them)

Virtual and In Person Clinician

I am not currently taking any new clients for individual or relationship therapy. Please consider one of our other talented team members.

While the journey to self-discovery may be a life-long process, we can utilize the power that comes from knowledge of self, our relationships, and our strengths, to make the best choices for our authentic selves. Knowledge can also bring awareness to what parts of ourselves need nurturance, acceptance, healing, and support. Although society has encouraged us to mask or hide our true selves, my goal in counseling is to create a safe and affirming space where clients can explore their true selves and their needs with curiosity and support.

As someone who has lived their life in the gray area, often not fitting into socially created boxes, I’ve learned a lot about the importance of making space for all of my client’s identities, roles, and experiences in counseling. I identify as a queer, neurodivergent, person of color, who holds multiple intersectional identities and has experienced many multicultural experiences by growing up in a transracial LGBTQ+ adoptive family in the south. I’m passionate about supporting BIPOC and LGBTQ+ individuals who hold one or multiple intersectional identities or experience identity concerns, perfectionism, anxiety, self-esteem concerns, depression, interpersonal/relationship concerns, and neurodiverse experiences.

My therapeutic approach is holistic, integrative, creative and centered around client empowerment. I utilize a combination of systemic, attachment, and narrative perspectives while integrating psychoeducation to validate my client’s experiences and support them in their therapeutic process. The relationships I build with my clients are based on authenticity, respect, and collaboration as I believe the client is the expert of their lived experiences. I encourage clients to provide feedback so I can better understand how to best support them. I also like to cultivate therapeutic relationships with clients through shared experiences, interests, and humor.

I completed my undergraduate in psychology and my masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Georgia State University. Between my degrees, I worked at a residential eating disorder facility with adolescents and adults, primarily working with eating disorders within the LGBTQ+ community. I’ve worked in several research settings on topics including sexual abuse, rape empathy, barriers to resources for refugees, and microaggressions and experiences of invisibility for people of color in higher education.

My session fee is $125 for a 50-minute individual session and $145 for relationship counseling.

Ru is currently under the supervision of Nick Marzo, MS LPC, LMHC, CST, CPCS, NCC, CCMHC, and Erika Pluhar at WholeHeart Psychotherapy as they work toward getting their certification in Emotionally Focused Therapy and Sex Therapy for couples and individuals, especially for consensual non-monogamous relationships, BDSM and Kink communities, racial minorities, and gender/sexuality minorities.