Dr. Ryan Knutson, LPC

Dr. Ryan Knutson helps people manage stress, anxiety, addiction, depression, and relationship or family strains. He also supports those facing grief, parenting challenges, caregiver stress, ADHD, and eating or body image concerns. He is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) based in Wisconsin with ten years of professional experience.

He holds a doctorate in counselor education and supervision as well as a master’s degree in mental health counseling and a bachelor’s in psychology. He has worked in correctional settings, outpatient clinics, group homes, and volunteered as a counselor at the Salvation Army. He has served as a supervisor for more than seven years and taught as an adjunct instructor in a graduate counseling program.

Ryan describes his approach as flexible and practical. He draws on cognitive behavioral work, person-centered ways of listening, motivational interviewing, and strength-based ideas. He aims to shape sessions around what helps each person most, rather than forcing a single method.

In sessions he focuses on conversations that feel useful and down-to-earth. People can expect straightforward discussion of problems, collaborative goal-setting, and practical steps to try between sessions. He emphasizes small changes that fit into everyday life.

He also supports people dealing with complicated situations like chronic illness, co-occurring conditions, domestic violence recovery, and substance use challenges. He notes interest in coaching and in helping those who experience compassion fatigue or career strain. Ryan works in English and practices in Wisconsin.

How his approaches translate to online work

Dr. Knutson uses evidence-based approaches such as cognitive behavioral techniques and motivational interviewing. Cognitive behavioral techniques focus on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing small behavior changes to reduce anxiety, depression, and compulsive patterns. Motivational interviewing helps people find their own reasons to change, which can be useful for substance use, chronic health habits, or being stuck about next steps.

He also draws on person-centered listening to make space for what matters most to the individual. That style emphasizes listening, reflecting, and helping people notice their strengths. Together, therapist and client decide which approaches to try and adjust the plan as progress is made.

If you are considering online work, confirm the session formats before booking since specific formats are not stated in his biography. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life - they can save travel time, allow shorter check-ins during a workday, or let someone join a session from a quieter location. Licensed professionals can adapt exercises, assign between-session tasks, and use screen sharing or chat when helpful. Finding the right approach is a collaborative process, and he will work with clients to identify the best methods and practical scheduling that fit their routines.