About Ivan
Ivan Ayala is a licensed therapist working in Minnesota. He holds licenses as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker.
Background and approach
He brings 13 years of clinical experience to conversations about stress, anxiety, depression, relationship struggles, and addiction concerns. He uses straightforward, practical methods in sessions.
He listens first, then helps people set goals and try strategies that fit their life. He draws on cognitive behavioral ideas, acceptance and commitment techniques, and client-centered therapy when making a plan.
Many people come for help with grief, trauma, parenting strain, intimacy problems, or career and life transitions. He also supports those facing LGBT concerns, sleep disruption, self-esteem issues, and ADHD-related struggles.
Sessions often focus on small, doable steps toward clearer thinking and steadier routines. Ivan describes his style as warm and relational.
He emphasizes compassion and respect while asking questions that help people notice patterns. Conversations are tailored to each person’s needs rather than following a fixed script.
He speaks English and Spanish and has worked with a range of cultural backgrounds. Over his career he has supported individuals, couples, and families around issues such as blended family challenges, fatherhood concerns, codependency, and recovery from substance use.
If someone is considering therapy, Ivan helps set clear goals and practical next steps. He encourages people to move at a pace that feels manageable and to measure progress in everyday life.
How these approaches translate to online therapy
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice unhelpful thoughts and commit to values-driven actions. Online ACT sessions focus on practical exercises that encourage small behavior changes and clearer priorities. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) emphasizes identifying and shifting thought and behavior patterns that keep problems going, and online work often includes short between-session tasks to practice new ways of thinking. Client-Centered Therapy centers the conversation on the person’s experience, using empathetic listening to help people feel understood and to guide their own choices.Finding the right approach is a shared process. The therapist will talk through goals, try different tools, and adjust methods based on what feels useful. Sessions are collaborative - the therapist offers options and the person decides what to try next.
Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video is useful for deeper conversation and visual cues. Phone calls can be a good fit when bandwidth is limited or for shorter check-ins. Live chat or text works well for brief updates, coaching-style exchanges, or when someone prefers writing to speaking. These options make it easier to fit therapy around work, family, and travel while keeping continuity of care.
Frequently asked questions
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Specialties and expertise
Top specialties
- Stress, Anxiety
- LGBT
- Relationship issues
Also works with
- Addictions
- ADHD
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Blended family issues
- Career difficulties
- Coaching
- Codependency
- Commitment issues
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Coping with life changes
- Dependent personality
- Depression
- Divorce and separation
- Domestic violence
- Drug and alcohol addiction
- Emptiness
- Family conflicts
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- Fatherhood issues
- Forgiveness
- Gender dysphoria
- Grief
- Guilt and shame
- Immigration issues
- Infidelity
- Intimacy-related issues
- Isolation / loneliness
- Jealousy
- Life purpose
- Men's issues
- Midlife crisis
- Money and financial issues
- Mood disorders
- Multicultural concerns
- Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Parenting issues
- Postpartum depression
- Prejudice and discrimination
- Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Self esteem
- Self-harm
- Self-love
- Sexual assault and abuse
- Sexual dysfunction
- Sexuality
- Sleeping disorders
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Trauma and abuse
- Women's issues
- Workplace issues
- Young adult issues
Therapeutic approaches
- Experience
- 13 years
- Licensed
- Minnesota
- Languages
- English, Spanish