About

Building great relationships is one of the most meaningful aspects of life. Hello perspective client! My name is Ruthie Doles and I hail from the central west coast of Florida. I am that rare Florida native who resides in the same area where I was born and raised. I’m in phase 2 of my work life. I retired from Pinellas County Government in 2017, where I worked as the manager of the county’s 911 Center for over 32 years. The daily human tragedies 911 dispatchers handle can be very stressful, but I found the personal stories of my employees much more compelling. My work as the 911 Center manager inspired me to become a therapist. I earned a BA in Interdisciplinary Social Sciences from University of South Florida in 2009 and obtained a Master’s in Social Work from the University of New England in 2016. I proudly became a licensed therapist in 2020, one good thing that occurred during the Covid pandemic. In my graduate program, I learned that all human behavior develops in the context of relationships. Family relationships are most significant to individual growth. The importance of healthy relationships in a successful life is often underestimated. The value of independence in our society overshadows our human need for connections. The quality of our family, friends, romantic, work and community connections impact our physical, mental and emotional health. Positive interactions promote feelings of connectedness and a sense of self-worth while negative encounters can lead to increased anxiety, a lack of self-confidence, and may even affect your thinking abilities. My primary practice approach is relational, using interventions that can help you understand the link between your thoughts, feelings and actions and the effect on your relationships. This will improve your ability to connect with others in ways that will enhance your life. I want to support you to have the loving, fulfilling, respectful relationships you deserve.