About Me
Hi, I’m Rick.
Before becoming a therapist, I practiced law in high-pressure professional environments. My transition into psychotherapy was shaped not only by professional experience, but also by a longstanding interest in the ways people adapt to pressure, identity, expectation, and belonging over time.
I work with adolescents and adults navigating attentional challenges, burnout, identity development, trauma, and the emotional strain that can emerge in demanding academic, professional, family, and social environments. Many of the people I work with are thoughtful, capable individuals who have spent years functioning at a high level while struggling internally in ways that may not always be visible to others.
My Approach
My approach to therapy is relational, collaborative, and grounded in evidence-based care. I draw from cognitive-behavioral and relational approaches to treatment, integrating practical tools for change alongside traditional Rogerian talk therapy to better understand ourselves, our histories, our relationships, and the patterns that shape the ways we experience and interact with the world.
I am nationally certified in both Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), two evidence-based treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder. My work is informed both by structured therapeutic interventions and by the belief that meaningful change occurs within the context of a thoughtful, authentic therapeutic relationship.
Identity, Experience, and Therapy
I also believe that aspects of shared identity and lived experience can matter in therapy. Whether related to profession, neurodivergence, sexual orientation, family structure, or other dimensions of identity, there are times when knowing a therapist may have moved through similar systems or experiences can help foster trust, recognition, and mutual understanding.
At the same time, I bear in mind that no two people experience the world in exactly the same way. Shared identity does not guarantee shared experience, and meaningful therapy depends on curiosity rather than assumption. My goal is to create a therapeutic space where clients feel fully understood without feeling reduced to a diagnosis, identity, or set of symptoms alone.
Education & Professional Background
I received my undergraduate degree from Brown University (Class of 2001) before spending a year working as Deputy Finance Director for a congressional campaign. I subsequently attended the University of Virginia School of Law (Class of 2005) and practiced law for many years prior to entering the mental health field. In 2012, I was recognized by the National LGBT Bar Association as one of its “40 Best LGBT Lawyers Under 40.”
I later earned my Master of Social Work from the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College (Class of 2021), where I deepened my commitment to relational, evidence-based psychotherapy and trauma-informed care.
I look forward to
hearing from you.
Whether you have questions about the process or you are ready to schedule your first session, I invite you to reach out.
914-338-8117
Rick@rjbtherapy.com