Ruth N. Pollak, MSSW, LCSW, BCD
Grief and Life Transition Counseling
Providing Growth Beyond Life’s Toughest Problems
Proudly Serving Littleton, Highlands Ranch, Castle Rock, Lakewood,
Ken Caryl, Roxborough, and Their Surrounding Communities.
A Comfortable Location Where the Emphasis is on You.
Find Strength, Healing, and Growth with Expert Therapy at ReLeaf Counseling Services
At ReLeaf Counseling Services, I offer compassionate and professional therapy to individuals, couples, and seniors facing life’s toughest challenges. With over 40 years of experience in private practice, I specialize in helping clients navigate loss, life transitions, and grief—areas that can feel overwhelming but also offer the potential for profound growth.
I believe that everyone has the ability to grow and heal, no matter how difficult life’s challenges may seem. My goal is to provide a safe and welcoming space where you feel comfortable sharing and exploring your feelings. I strive to make every session a step toward better understanding yourself and gaining practical skills to manage life’s struggles.
My Approach
As a licensed social worker and psychotherapist, I take a practical, supportive approach to therapy, utilizing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help you identify and change unhelpful patterns of thinking and behavior. My focus is on short-term therapy, designed to address your immediate concerns and provide relief in the “here and now,” helping you develop the tools and insights you need to move forward.
Whether you’re coping with the loss of a loved one, adjusting to a major life change, or simply feeling stuck, I’m here to help you navigate these challenges and build a stronger, more resilient you.
If you’re ready to take the next step toward healing, contact me today to schedule a consultation.
Ruth N. Pollak, MSSW, LCSW, BCD
Frequently Asked Questions
Not at all. People who feel stuck know when they can benefit from assistance and they have the ability to reach out. Everyone needs help now and then. You already have many strengths that have worked for you before. These may not be working right now or are not enough when facing your current conflicts. Perhaps this problem feels overwhelming and is making it difficult to access your past strengths. In our work together, we’ll help you identify what these strengths are and how to implement them again given what is happening now.
The difference is between someone who you live with and want to continue being in your life, and someone who has the professional training and experience to help you find new tools to work with. A mental health professional can help you approach your situation in a new way– teach you new skills, gain different perspectives, listen to you without judgment or expectations, and help you listen to yourself. Furthermore, therapy is completely confidential. You won’t have to worry about others “knowing your business.” Lastly, if your situation provokes a great deal of negative emotion, if you’ve been confiding in a friend or family member, there is the risk that once you are feeling better you could start avoiding that person so you aren’t reminded of this difficult time in your life.
Medication alone cannot solve issues. What medication does is treat symptoms. Our work together is designed to explore the root of the issue, dig deep into your behavior and learn strategies that can help you accomplish your personal and/or relational goals.
Medication can be effective in reducing symptoms that get in the way of your progress and is sometimes beneficial in conjunction with therapy.
Because each person has different issues and goals for therapy, therapy will be different depending on the individual. We tailor our therapeutic approach to your specific needs.
Unfortunately, this is not possible to answer on a general FAQs page. Everyone’s circumstances are unique to them and the length of time therapy can take in order for you to accomplish your goals depends on your desire for personal development, your commitment, and the factors that have driven you to seek therapy in the first place.
We are so glad you are dedicated to getting the most out of your sessions. Your active participation and dedication is crucial to your success. After all, we only see each other for a session a week. It’s the work you do outside of our sessions that will really help you get to your personal growth and development.
If you are concerned about your relationship, and you would both like to work with us, we would initially work with both of you together. After this work, if one of you would like to continue in individual sessions, we could work with only one of you. It is not helpful to move from individual into couple’s work with the same therapist because of potential trust issues.