About Ruby Rhoden, Psy.D.

Online therapy for women across New York State

Photo of Black therapist smiling. This represents the Black female therapists at Lavender Therapy who treat women in NYC and New York State.

Hi. I’m Dr. Ruby Rhoden, a Licensed Psychologist in New York State, and the founder of Lavender Therapy. As your therapist, I bring my authentic self through humor, energy, and creativity (including music, art, and occasional reality TV references) to provide balance, communicate hopefulness, and identify what brings you pleasure and joy. At its core, I believe in therapy that is collaborative and transparent to provide you with the tools and support needed to navigate life's challenges and create sustainable change.

About Me:

As an integrative therapist, I use a collection of different proven approaches to unearth questions that have left you feeling stuck or unhappy while teaching you coping skills to become your favorite version of you. These approaches include:

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

  • Dialectical Behavior Therapy - Skills (DBT)

  • Psychodynamic Psychotherapy

Desk with clock, plant, and lamp. This represents an example office of Black female therapists at Lavender Therapy who treat women in NYC and New York State.

I enjoy holding space for women who feel lost or not like themselves due to painful reproductive experiences or caring for others so much that they forget how to care for themselves. This includes individual psychotherapy for women struggling with:

  • Infertility

  • Pregnancy/Postpartum Mood & Anxiety Disorders (PMADs)

  • Miscarriage & stillbirth

  • Pregnancy & Childbirth Trauma

  • Abortion

  • Parenthood

  • Career and caregiver burnout

  • Depression and anxiety

  • Life transitions

  • Trauma

My clients also struggle with “people pleasing”, saying “no”, and even relaxing. Sometimes they’re the eldest children in their families and/or are adult children of immigrants. Translation: clients who come to see me also don’t know how to not show up for everyone in their lives. Regardless of your reason for pursuing therapy, my goal is to cultivate a soft place for you to land while helping you (re)discover your favorite version of you.

Areas of Focus:

Training:



I graduated from Cornell University with my Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in Psychology and minor in Africana Studies. I earned my Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) degree from The Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology (GSAPP) at Rutgers University and completed my internship at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York.

  • Many of my clients are initially weary of therapy (and of new people generally) and the possibility of revisiting painful experiences with someone new. That’s okay - our sessions will go at your pace.

  • Sessions are first and foremost a conversation. I believe in creating a safe and non-judgmental space where you can explore your thoughts, feelings, and experiences to create sustainable change.

  • You may cope by scrolling on social media or having a glass (or three) of your drink of choice. You aren’t alone. The way you’ve coped with your emotions or experiences has kept you going this far in life, and you may notice that it isn’t helping you the same way anymore. In fact, it may be harming you now more than ever. You may be ready for something new. Youcan read more about my philosophy in my blog post here.

My Philosophy

Let’s Discover How I Can Help

I am here to walk alongside you. Schedule your free 15-minute virtual consultation and we can discuss how we can work together to help you achieve your goals. You can also read my blog post about what to expect in our first therapy session here.