With
over 10 years of experience counseling children, Ruth Wharton, works therapeutically
with children through the language of play. Trained as an experiential
play therapist, gestalt therapist, and licensed professional counselor,
Ruth supports children to express their emotions and establish balance
and a sense of well being. Ruth brings to her private practice a skilled
ability to witness and frame her clients’ experiences with compassion
and a vision towards health.
With 15 years of experience working therapeutically in wilderness settings
with people of all ages, Ruth has also developed a wilderness based psychotherapy
practice. Ruth has worked with wilderness rites of passage for over a
decade and deeply believes in the ability for a person to discover a pathway
toward self awareness and healing while in relationship with themselves,
the natural world, and a therapist.
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Ruth
Wharton
L.P.C.
303-494-1778
EMAIL
RUTH
Office
Location:
BOULDER
2133 13th St.
Boulder, CO 80302
EDUCATION
Ruth graduated from Prescott College in 1999 with a B.A. in Therapeutic
Use of the Wilderness Experience and Cultural Anthropology. During her
studies, she worked in Prescott elementary schools leading groups and
dream workshops for children. Ruth’s education focused on a person
centered approach to therapy as well as ways to use metaphors as therapeutic
tools for people of all ages. She was trained and certified as a Wilderness
First Responder and worked in several wilderness programs for children
and adults. Ruth also trained at the School of Lost Borders as a wilderness
rites of passage guide.
Ruth was trained as a counselor for a 24 hour domestic violence and sexual
assault crisis hotline in 2001. Trained as a certified child and teen
assault prevention counselor, Ruth presented throughout California on
topics including domestic violence, sexual assault, relationship issues,
and non-violent communication. Ruth also completed an 80 hour training
to counsel children and adults who have experienced trauma.
Because of her experience working with children and teens in the crisis
center, Ruth decided to further her education and in 2006 received her
Master’s degree in Transpersonal Counseling Psychology from Naropa
University. During Ruth’s education, she specialized in course work
related to children, adolescents, and play therapy. In 2005, Ruth completed
an intensive training in Experiential Play Therapy with Byron and Carol
Norton, two pioneers in the field of Play Therapy. Over the last few years,
Ruth has continued to train and receive supervision toward becoming a
Registered Play Therapist.
Over 10 years ago, Ruth began her work as a therapist in wilderness settings, guiding children, adolescents, and adults on therapeutic wilderness expeditions. Ruth is currently the director of the vision quest and training program at The School of Lost Borders. She has over a decade of experience guiding both youth and adults through wilderness rites of passage. Ruth has also guided backpacking trips for children and adolescents, worked with adjudicated youth in wilderness therapy programs, and worked as a counselor, tutor, mentor and educator in a variety of other programs for children.
Ruth directed a teen counseling program for a domestic violence and sexual assault crisis center. During this time, Ruth gained experience working with survivors of abuse and found play therapy particularly effective when working therapeutically with children.
Ruth has 10 years of experience as a group facilitator and educator, and has worked in a variety of settings including schools, group homes, teen centers, and juvenile hall. As a Council Facilitator in Boulder Valley schools, Ruth educated children on health related topics and provided an environment for children to express themselves openly.
In 2005, Ruth interned at MDS counseling center as psychotherapist for children and adults where she implemented a play therapy counseling program at a Denver public elementary school. During this time, Ruth saw a tremendous need for experiential play therapy for children. Because of this experience along with a decade of experience working with children, Ruth has dedicated her practice to provide effective and empowering therapeutic services to children.
