Ryan Babineaux (he/him)

Drawing from practices in innovation, positive psychology, and behavioral science, I’ve developed simple yet powerful techniques to help people change and grow. I’m the creator of the Stanford University class “Do It Anyway! Creating a life of passionate action” and the author of the book “Fail Fast, Fail Often: how losing can help you win”, an Oprah editor's choice selection. My work has been featured in the New York Times, NPR, and The Atlantic. As a therapist, I’m compassionate, warm and practical. I enjoy taking the time to understand and appreciate my clients, while empowering them with modern tools to promote rapid change. My approach to therapy is strength-based, collaborative, and founded on the principle that everyone deserves a joyful and fulfilling life. My areas of expertise include anxiety, depression, trauma, ADHD, life purpose, and marital and couples counseling. I also have broad experience working with technical founders, executives and engineers.

My passion is for understanding how people can lead more vibrant and purposeful lives, which has led to my work as a therapist, researcher and writer. I’ve studied and collaborated with a number of leaders in the field of human development, including Howard Gardener, the creator of the theory of multiple intelligences, William Damon, a leading scholar of life purpose, and John Krumboltz, a legendary therapist and founder of the Stanford Counseling program. I’ve practiced Buddhism for over 25 years and have served as an adjunct professor in the Naropa University contemplative psychology program. As the founder of a technology company while in graduate school, I have a great appreciation for the creativity, passion and stresses associated with technical fields and startups. I believe that people don’t fit in a single box. In that regard, I’ve taught experiential retreats at Esalen, dropped out to be a modern monk, and been an invited speaker on innovation at the US State Department.