Practitioner record · Checked 9 Oct 2026
Ryan O'Connell has been in practice 6 years and is licensed in New York. Ryan lists stress, Anxiety, grief and career difficulties among 25 subjects on the BetterHelp roster.
Everything below is either quoted from Ryan's own BetterHelp listing, taken from public licensing records, or written by Maker Therapy and labelled as such. Nothing here is an availability promise, a review, or a rating.
01 · Who Ryan works with
Ryan lists 5 specialisms and 20 further focus areas. Specialisms are the subjects Ryan chose to list first, which is the closest a listing gets to “this is my actual practice”.
02 · In Ryan's own words
Reproduced in full and unedited - not summarised, not tightened, not rewritten in a house voice.
My ideal client is at a crossroads. They are high functioning but burdened by stress, grief, or identity confusion. They seek more than symptom relief; they long for purpose, integration, and a greater sense of authenticity. Often navigating trauma, a lack of supportive relationships, or nagging existential questions, they need a therapist who holds both a diverse clinical skillset and a deep respect for his clients. Client goals often include minimizing depression or anxiety symptoms, but each individual is unique. Ultimately, clients desire to feel empowered to grow into the best version of themselves. I can help with that. I help clients navigate stress and the confusion that often accompanies transitions in life stages. My specialties include grief work, identity reformation, and processing past trauma. We will create a space where you can reflect on your relationships, goals, and the challenges that keep you from living the life you desire to live. Then the work can begin. Therapy is most effective when there is a dynamic and transparent relationship between client and therapist. I welcome clients who seek to build this sort of relationship together and are determined to find concrete solutions to the challenges they experience. If this is what you're looking for, I invite you to reach out and see if we’re the right fit.
Ryan O'Connell, on the BetterHelp listing · read 9 Oct 2026
03 · What happens next
Ryan practises through BetterHelp, so the route in is BetterHelp's. This is that sequence, written by Maker Therapy from the platform's published process - not a description of Ryan's own practice, and not a promise about how quickly anything happens.
BetterHelp opens with a set of questions about what you are dealing with, what you want from therapy, and any preferences on the therapist. You are not booking Ryan at this point.
BetterHelp matches algorithmically by default, so asking for Ryan is a step you have to take. There is a field for requesting a specific therapist during sign-up, and you can switch afterwards from your account. Starting from a link on this page does not by itself assign you to Ryan.
You will be offered somebody else rather than put on a waitlist. Worth knowing, because it is easy to assume a match is the person you asked for.
A first session is typically history and orientation: what brought you, what has been tried, what you want to be different. It is also where the questions in the next section belong.
Changing therapist on BetterHelp does not need a reason. A first session that does not click is common and is not a verdict on therapy. That option existing is the main practical difference between a platform and a private practice.
04 · Before you commit
Built from what Ryan actually lists, so they are answerable and specific rather than generic. Maker Therapy's, not Ryan's - Ryan has not seen them and is under no obligation to answer any of them.
“How do you decide when someone is ready to work on a traumatic memory itself?”
Pacing is the biggest safety question in trauma work. A clear, unhurried answer here matters more than any credential.
“How do you handle the gap between sessions if something comes up?”
On BetterHelp this varies a great deal by therapist. Better to know the rhythm now than to discover it on a bad week.
05 · Practical details
06 · Provenance
Ryan's name, credential, state, subjects, approaches and biography are read from BetterHelp's therapist roster, which Maker Therapy re-reads once a day; this page reflects the reading taken on 9 Oct 2026. The licence number and NPI are cross-checked against public registers.
The plain-English method descriptions, the first-session walkthrough and the questions are written by Maker Therapy and labelled as such wherever they appear.
Maker Therapy is not BetterHelp, does not take bookings, and has not met Ryan. There are no reviews or ratings on this page because we have no way to verify one. If you start therapy through a link here, we may be paid a commission - it does not change your price and it does not affect who appears here or in what order.
Something on this page wrong or out of date? Report it and it will be checked against the source.
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