- Family of origin issues
- Anxiety and depression
- Parenting and addiction
About Ivan
Ivan Ayala is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) practicing in Minnesota with 13 years of clinical experience. He works with adults on concerns such as anxiety, depression, relationship problems, parenting stress, addiction, grief, and issues affecting LGBT people. He also addresses family of origin issues when early family patterns continue to affect current life.
Ivan uses clear, direct conversation to help people notice how patterns from their family of origin show up now. Sessions focus on practical steps, behavior changes, and ways to rethink longstanding roles and expectations. He mixes cognitive behavioral ideas with acceptance-based tools to reduce unhelpful thoughts and build more workable habits.
He includes client-centered listening and motivational interviewing to help people find what matters to them and stay engaged in change. Narrative elements are used to help people reframe stories they have told themselves since childhood. Mindfulness techniques are taught to reduce reactivity and improve sleep and focus.
People can expect straightforward talk about day-to-day problems like parenting strain, communication breakdowns, commitment worries, and managing stress at work. He also assists with recovery from substance concerns and with grief and loss.
Ivan offers sessions in English and Spanish and works with people from diverse backgrounds. He combines practical exercises, goal-focused conversations, and reflective work so clients can test small changes between sessions.
How his approaches translate to online sessions
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on noticing thoughts and deciding which values guide action. Online work with ACT can help people with anxiety, relationship patterns, and family of origin issues by practicing value-based choices between sessions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) breaks problems into thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and uses short exercises to change patterns. CBT online often includes concrete skill practice for sleep, anxiety, and coping with stressful interactions.Finding the right mix of methods is part of the work. The therapist collaborates with each person to choose approaches that match their goals, preferences, and daily life. That means trying exercises, checking what helps, and shifting methods if needed.
Session formats are not listed in the supplied biography, so confirm current online session options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and remove travel time. Video or phone sessions can be chosen for practical reasons such as bandwidth, comfort with being on camera, or fitting a session during a work break. Licensed professionals guide which format will work best for the client and the goals they want to address.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
13+ years
Listed in
Minnesota
Languages
English, Spanish
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does he help with?
He works with adults on stress, anxiety, depression, relationship problems, parenting strain, addiction, grief, and related concerns. Family of origin issues are listed among his focus areas.
What is his therapeutic approach and style?
He blends Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, client-centered listening, motivational interviewing, narrative work, and mindfulness. The style emphasizes direct conversation and practical steps.
How much experience does he have?
He has 13 years of clinical experience working in psychotherapy settings. That background includes work with a range of relationship and behavioral concerns.
What are his credentials and where is he located?
He is credentialed as a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in Minnesota. His practice is based in Minnesota.
Which languages are supported in sessions?
Sessions are offered in English and Spanish.
Can people outside the U.S. work with him?
He accepts international clients. Confirm any licensing or legal questions that might apply in your location before booking.
How are session costs handled?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time. Exact pricing depends on the subscription plan.
What are the first steps to begin?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and then schedule a first session. That process starts the match and booking flow.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the emergency numbers. Looking for someone else? Find them by surname.