Personal Statement
They say, “If you do what you love, you will never work a day in your life.” This is true of me after entering the field of mental health. I love sitting with my clients, going deep, and helping you make changes in your life. I am so honored to be a part of your journey and to walk with you towards freedom, wholeness, and to become your authentic self.
I am a CSAT (Certified Sex Addiction Therapist) and have a heart and passion for those who are struggling to break free from unhealthy and unwanted sexual behaviors. I am passionate about helping people change unhealthy patterns and discover new ways of living. I love helping my clients understand why they do what they do. I love helping clients gain insight into their own story and how it is playing out in the present and more importantly, how to make changes.
I am the owner and founder of Pneuma and launched my vision in 2020 to open a practice that would serve the needs of the city and also have a passion for those who have been affected by trauma and those who struggle with unwanted sexual behaviors (sex addiction) but not only that, but to also support the partner of the one who struggles.
I currently reside in Colorado, but I am a native of Chicago and grew up on the northwest side of the city. I am happily married to my best friend and have three children who make me a better person everyday. In my free time, I love staying active, planning my next backpacking trip, and spending time with my family and close friends enjoying a good meal, deep conversation, and having a good laugh.
Treatment Areas and Competencies
Porn Addiction
Trauma
Shame
Attachment Disorders
Relationship Issues
Sex Addiction
Anxiety
Approach to Therapy
Therapy can be described as someone holding a mirror up to you to help you to see yourself more clearly. As you begin to discover yourself, you may want to make changes. Therapy, also becomes like we are walking around in the forest in the dark, only I am holding the flashlight. I want to then shine the light on your path. Finally, therapy is like climbing Mt Everest. When you climb such a mountain you get a sherpa. A sherpa will get you from base camp to base camp, he might even carry your gear. Ultimately, though, you must climb the mountain.
I use multiple modalities such as psychodynamic, attachment, EMDR and experiential therapies. I find accessing emotion to be a powerful way to bring about healing. I am an active and collaborative therapist. I am focused on you and want to help you put words to your experience and help you tell your story. I understand that coming to therapy is a vulnerable experience and I’m going to be in it with you. I’ll be asking questions and partnering with you in this process of growth. I share my perceptions in the moment and check them out with you. I am attentive to shifts in the room to help us both track your experience (your feelings, thoughts, and reactions in the moment), which can give us important information to deepen the work. I am both direct and empathic, and I work from a stance of respect and curiosity to develop a safe environment to help cultivate change. I love helping people connect the dots. I want you to understand yourself better and to see how your story connects to why you struggle.
Treatment Modalities and Theoretical Orientations
Psychodynamic
Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)
Parts work or Internal Family Systems (IFS)
Attachment-Based Interventions
Shame and Resilience
Education, Licenses and Certifications
- MA in Mental Health Counseling from Trinity International University
- BA in psychology from DePaul University
- Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) – License #180.011854
- Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC)
- Certified Sex Addiction Therapist (CSAT)
- Eye Movement, Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR) Trained Therapist
What Clients Say About Rick
Rick was kind, compassionate and thoughtful. When we hit a pivotal point in our marriage. Rick helped us not only work through the issue that brought us in, but helped us identify other aspects of our relationship we needed to work on. Rick helped our marriage become stronger than ever. I am so grateful for the time, care and genuine concern he had for the two of us, and always keeping our values and beliefs at the center of our marriage.
A & O
I started seeing Rick for some problems with alcohol, but after we began working he was able to uncover some deeper issues and help me get to the root of my problems. Rick was patient when I had a hard time opening up or trusting, but he also challenged me at times to dig deeper. I appreciated Rick’s accepting attitude and the ways he allowed me to just be myself – and his laid-back style and sense of humor made every one of our sessions enjoyable. I will forever be grateful for the therapy I have done with Rick, I believe it has changed the trajectory of my life.
A.H.
My experience with therapy was revolutionary. Rick helped me to understand details about my past that were greatly affecting my current state of being. He provided countless tools for me to use to better myself and experience the fullness of life. I am a different person today than I was when I first stepped into his office, and that would not be the case if it weren’t for his highly professional skill set in the art that is counseling.
K.S.
My therapist, Rick, was very professional and led me through a process that has enabled me to begin to make significant progress in my life. Rick was instrumental in helping me to see that my previous traumatic experiences have affected the way I worked, managed relationships and parenting. He empathetically listened and gave me extraordinary tools and advice on what I could implement to see lasting results. I am forever changed! This was an invaluable experience that I will cherish. I will definitely continue to seek out their wisdom and competency.
I am filled with gratitude with my experience at pneuma therapeutic services. Walking into the office one is immediately welcomed with the modern and warm decor. I had a surprisingly wonderful experience, because I was one of those that genuinely believed that I didn’t need to see a therapist. I was mistaken and I do not regret making time for this crucial and necessary work in my journey.
I never thought of myself as someone who would benefit from therapy. However I agreed to work with Rick after a friend of mine recommended him to me. Rick helped me to pay attention to part of me that I’d never really understood and frankly was afraid of. I came into therapy feeling stuck in patterns of behavior that were not helpful. Today I have a new sense of freedom and have seen that positively impact myself, my marriage, and my family.