Ryan Shelby Butler
Practical, values-focused counseling in Arizona
LPC Arizona
- Experience
- 7 years in practice
- Focus areas
- Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Family
- Approaches
- Gottman Method, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Languages
- English
About Ryan
Ryan Shelby Butler is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) based in Arizona. He offers practical, down-to-earth help for people dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship and family concerns, and other life challenges.
Background and approach
He talks plainly and focuses on what people can do next instead of getting stuck in blame or theory. He uses a mix of approaches drawn from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, attachment-focused work, and client-centered principles.
Sessions often include skill practice, values exploration, and short-term problem solving tailored to the person's needs. The Gottman Method is part of the toolkit he brings for relationship-focused work.
Butler earned a Master of Science in Professional Counseling and a Post-Graduate degree in Christian Counseling from Grand Canyon University. He also holds a Master of Science in Leadership and a Bachelor of Arts in General Studies with emphases in psychology, philosophy, and business.
His background includes several years in higher education where he supported students and staff in guidance and leadership roles. He tends to blend practical coaching with therapeutic listening, drawing on life experience as a husband and father.
Sessions aim to identify small, manageable steps clients can take between meetings. That can mean learning coping skills, clarifying values, or practicing new ways of communicating.
Outside work he spends time with family, serves in church leadership, and enjoys reading and the outdoors. He describes counseling as collaborative and goal oriented, and he encourages people to take the first step when they feel ready.
Therapeutic approaches for online sessions
Ryan combines Acceptance and Commitment Therapy with attachment-focused and client-centered work to support people online. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice difficult thoughts and feelings while clarifying what matters most to them and taking committed action toward those values. Attachment-Based Therapy focuses on patterns in close relationships and helps people develop safer, more dependable ways of relating to others. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes empathetic listening and collaboration so the person sets the pace and goals.Choosing the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will review goals, preferences, and what has or hasn't helped before to decide which methods to use. That choice is flexible and can shift as progress is made or new needs emerge.
Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to provide practical options. Video is useful for longer sessions and practicing interactions. Phone can be a simpler check-in with less bandwidth. Live chat and text messaging work well for brief check-ins, homework support, or when scheduling needs to be flexible. These options make it easier to fit therapy into busy days and keep consistent momentum between sessions.
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Areas of expertise
Primary focus
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Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
7+ years
Licensed in
Arizona
Languages
English