RUTH HIRSHBERG, MSW, RSW
1:1 Support with Ruth
You can be holding everything together and still not be okay.
You may be the one people count on. The one who handles things, keeps going and figures out what needs to happen next.
And you can still be overwhelmed. Exhausted. Struggling with something you don't know how to carry. Or so used to taking care of everything and everyone else that you can't hear yourself anymore.
You don't have to know exactly what you need before we talk.
I can be your ground until you find yours again.
You don't have to worry about what I'll think of you.
You can tell me the thing you think you shouldn't be feeling. The resentment. The anger. The jealousy. The part of you that knows better and still doesn't feel any differently.
I've had thoughts and feelings I wished I didn't have too. I've known what it's like to think I should be handling something better than I am.
There is nothing you need to make more reasonable, more acceptable or more put together before you bring it here.
There is nothing you could say that will make me think badly of you.
I'm not here to tell you what you should do.
I've spent years as a social worker sitting with people through complicated, painful and messy parts of their lives. I bring that experience with me. But I am not the expert on your life. You are.
My job isn't to give you my answer. It's to listen, ask questions, notice what might be hard to see when you're right in the middle of it, and sometimes challenge you when that's what you need.
Because underneath all the expectations, the second-guessing and everything you've been carrying, you often know more than you think you do. Sometimes you just need help hearing yourself again.
What happens in a 1:1 session?
Each session is 60 minutes, virtual, and shaped around what you need that day. You don't need to prepare what you're going to say or arrive with a goal. We start where you are.
We start by getting grounded.
We'll begin with a few minutes of breathwork to help you arrive and settle into the space. You don't have to rush straight from whatever was happening in your day into talking about something difficult.
Then we talk about what's going on.
This is where we spend most of our time. You might bring something you're struggling with, a decision you can't seem to make, a pattern you keep finding yourself in, or just the feeling that something isn't right. We'll talk, get curious and untangle things together. I may ask questions, reflect something back to you or help you see what you're experiencing differently.
We don't end abruptly.
Before you go back to your day, we'll come back to the breath. Not because everything needs to be resolved or you need to leave feeling good, but because I don't want to open something difficult with you and then simply say, “Okay, our time is up.”
About Ruth Hirshberg, MSW, RSW
I'm a Registered Social Worker with a Master's degree in Social Work, and throughout my career I've sat with people during some of the hardest moments of their lives.
That experience taught me something I carry into every conversation: I can't know what's right for you just because I'm the professional. That means meeting you where you are, understanding what you're carrying and working with you from there.
My professional experience isn't the only thing that shaped how I do this work. I've been through hard things too. I know what it feels like to struggle, to not know what to do and to feel alone in it.
I'm comfortable being with you there. I don't need to rush you toward feeling better or turn what you're going through into a lesson. Sometimes you need help finding your way through something. Sometimes you need a different way of looking at it. And sometimes you need someone who can sit with you while it's hard.
Work with me 1:1
1:1 sessions are 60 minutes, virtual and $220 CAD.
How you work with me depends on where you live.
If you live in Ontario:
Therapy with Ruth
If you live in Ontario, our work together is provided as therapy with me as a Registered Social Worker. Sessions are booked and held securely through Owl Practice, and you'll receive a receipt for services provided by an RSW. Your extended-health benefits may cover some or all of the cost depending on your plan.
$220 CAD · No HST
If you live outside Ontario:
Grounding with Ruth
If you live outside Ontario, our work together is offered through Grounding with Ruth as non-clinical wellness and educational support. We can talk, reflect, use breathwork and work with what's going on for you. These sessions are not psychotherapy or clinical treatment and do not include an RSW receipt.
$220 CAD · HST where applicable
Frequently Asked Questions About Therapy
Is 1:1 with Ruth therapy?
If you reside in Ontario, yes. Our work together is provided as therapy with me as a Registered Social Worker.
If you reside outside Ontario, your sessions are offered through Grounding with Ruth as non-clinical wellness and educational support. These sessions are not psychotherapy or clinical treatment.
Can I use my extended-health benefits?
If you are reside in Ontario, you’ll receive a receipt for psychotherapy services provided by Ruth Hirshberg, MSW, RSW. Many extended-health plans include coverage for services provided by a Registered Social Worker, but plans vary, so please check your individual coverage.
Sessions provided through Grounding with Ruth outside Ontario are nonclinical wellness services and are not eligible as psychotherapy services.
What can I bring to a 1:1 session?
Whatever is going on for you. You might be struggling with a relationship, a decision, boundaries, resentment, expectations, something you keep doing even though you understand the pattern, or a hard experience you don't want to carry by yourself.
You can also come because you're overwhelmed, disconnected from yourself or simply know that something doesn't feel right.
Do I need to know what I want to talk about?
No. You don't need to arrive with a goal, an agenda or even a clear explanation of what's wrong. We can start with where you are and figure out together what would be helpful to explore.
How often can I book 1:1 sessions?
There is no set schedule that is right for everyone. We can talk about what makes sense for you based on what you're working through and the kind of support you're looking for.
Is 1:1 with Ruth appropriate if I'm in crisis?
No. 1:1 with Ruth is not a crisis service and I am not available for immediate or emergency support.
If you are in immediate danger or need urgent medical attention, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency department.
If you are experiencing a mental health or suicide crisis:
Canada: Call or text 988 for the 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
United States: Call or text 988 for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
For anyone elsewhere, contact your local emergency or crisis service.
Not sure where to start?
The Clarity Call is a free 30-minute conversation where we can explore what is going on and what kind of support might serve you best.
© Copyright 2026. Grounding with Ruth. All rights reserved.