Ryan Schulz, LCSW

After teaching high school English, I transitioned into the field of social work by first working in foster care. I have found that my training in literature has prepared me to acknowledge and confront the breadth of existential dynamics in the human experience, enriching the therapy process. I obtained my Master's in Social Work at Arizona State University in Tucson and immediately began working as a psychotherapist with people living with HIV/AIDS. Throughout my career, I have also worked with hospice patients & their families, the LGBTQ community, older adults & couples. My approach to psychotherapy is rooted in humanistic & psychodynamic theories. I am deeply interested in the affect of shame, early experiences, the unconscious, fantasies, internal dynamics, interpersonal relationships, existential truths, meta-emotion & the concept of the true self. I believe that attuned, non-intrusive, non-abandoning, non-possessive empathy facilitates people uncovering their authentic selves, which I believe to be the ultimate purpose of therapy. My approach is exploratory, non-directive & most focused on helping people gain insight into how they relate to others and their own emotions & experiences. I find that this, rather than a focus on simple symptom reduction, feels more meaningful and leads to a deeper sense of change. I like Carl Rogers' view that therapy is a process of "getting behind the mask," learning the value of fully experiencing feelings, becoming more open to experience, building trust in the self rather than external sources & "willingness to be a process." To schedule a consultation, please list your phone number in the contact form above or call me at (520) 428-8220. I look forward to hearing from you & exploring beginning a therapeutic relationship.