Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker
Individual and Couples Therapy/Consultation
30 Years Clinical Experience
Specializing in treating anxiety, panic, depression, relationship issues, and emerging adults.
Clinical Supervision, Organizational Development, Leadership Development.
Central SQ Cambridge, MA
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For consultation, send Rick an email or call 617.354.6471
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Do you feel stuck? Anxious? Perplexed about finding your place in the world? Do you want to feel freer, more real, more connected, and more like the author of your own life? Do you want your life to be more meaningful?
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I have 30 years experience working with individuals and couples on these issues. In a warm, accepting atmosphere I help people deepen their understanding of themselves, change old patterns, and develop new modes of thinking, feeling, and relating to others.
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I will get to know you, emphasize your strengths and resources, and then we will find the best way to address the concerns you bring with you. We will use what works for you sprinkled with a good dose of creative humor.
APPROACH
We all need different things in therapy to work through difficult issues. My work is solidly grounded in many theories, including, cognitive/behavioral, psychodynamic and family systems approaches. I work with individuals and couples from all sexual orientations, ethnic, racial, and class backgrounds. I believe in keeping my private practice small. Therapy works by being able to establish relationships with clients and being genuine. To me, this means limiting the number of clients in my practice.
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My style is interactive and supportive. I am client-centered, practical and strengths-based. Honesty, warmth and humor will create the foundation of our therapy relationship.
Philosophy
I pay a great deal of attention to the therapeutic relationship. The basics are about creating a context of support, listening, and providing direct honest feedback. Research indicates it does not matter as much about the theoretical orientation as the quality of the therapeutic relationship. What is important is warmth, the ability to mirror, reflect and connect.
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The Tool Chest
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is present centered and is based on the premise that thinking precedes feeling and behavior. In other words, to change how you feel and act you must change the way you think. Research indicates this is one of the best and most direct ways to treat depression and anxiety.
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Psychodynamic Therapy, also known as insight-oriented therapy, focuses on unconscious processes as they are manifested in a person's present behavior. The goals of Psychodynamic Therapy are a client's self-awareness and understanding of the influence of the past on present behavior. In its brief form, a psychodynamic approach enables the client to examine unresolved conflicts and symptoms that arise from the past.
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Positive Psychology is the scientific study of the strengths and virtues that enable individuals and communities to thrive. While psychology traditionally studies human dysfunction and tries to treat it, Positive Psychology is a new and exciting perspective. I was a research fellow at Harvard in 2007 and taught Positive Psychology. This has been a wonderful addition for some clients in my practice.
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Developmental Psychology is the study of how people develop in childhood and throughout the life cycle. This gives a contextual understanding of all underlying struggles.
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Research into Panic Attacks and Anxiety has given us a body of knowledge capable of giving hope to those who want to learn to deal with these issues. I have learned and teach this information.
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Family Systems Theory comes out of general systems theory and helps people understand how family rules, roles, norms, and boundaries help shape the individual.
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Making Meaning in Our Lives. I believe human beings are designed to create and make meaning. Positive Psychology indicates happiness happens at the intersection of meaning and pleasure. Our society gives lots of false messages about what is meaningful. Here I am a bit of a philosopher and we look beyond the realm of most therapy.
EXPERIENCE
Biography:
I received my BA in Behavioral Science from Lesley University in 1988, and my MSW from Smith College School for Social Work in 1992. I was an adjunct faculty member in the College of Public and Community Services at the University of Massachusetts Boston until 2017. I taught a course in Leadership and Organizational Development in the Graduate School for Human Services.
I was a Teaching Fellow at Harvard University from 2007-2009 and taught sections in Positive Psychology. As an adjunct faculty member in the Masters in Counseling Psychology program at Lesley University, I taught Clinical Practice and Supervision. I have 10 years of experiences as a parent educator at the Cambridge Center for Families. I have also worked in a residential program for drug and alcohol addictions, a children's psychiatric hospital, an HIV residential program and a public housing project. I have extensive experience giving clinical supervision to other social workers.
I believe in public service and activism. I have been on the board of many not-for-profits, including a homeless shelter and a theater for disadvantaged children. I founded the first state wide living wage campaign in the country for human service workers. I have received many awards for my work, including a Peace and Justice Award from the City of Cambridge and a community service award from the Mid Cambridge Neighborhood Association.
I am licensed by the commonwealth of Massachusetts as a Licensed, Independent Clinical Social Worker, LICSW. Lic # 1024940
PRICING AND INSURANCE
Payment/Pricing:
Whether or not you have insurance, or use your insurance, I am committed to making therapy affordable. My sliding scale runs from about $70 per hour to $250 per hour. I have a negotiation process that my clients feel is fair and upfront. I will start by asking you what is affordable; beyond that we will look at your income, number of children, and rent and student loans as mediating factors.
Medical Insurance is an increasingly complicated issue. Insurance companies increasingly limit the number of clinicians in their panels. I am on some of the panels and not others.
Pros to using insurance:
The primary reason to use insurance is it often reduces cost.
Cons to using insurance:
There can be paperwork and hassles from insurance companies; many insurance companies look for excuses to deny claims and you may need to resubmit a claim several times.
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It can take time to receive money back from the insurance company.
Additionally, using an insurance company invites a 3rd party into the room: insurance companies have case managers who often call your therapist for updates or they have forms to fill out to monitor your progress in therapy. Many people find this intrusive and upsetting.
Therapy needs to be considered "medically necessary," meaning you will need to be given a diagnosis of a psychological condition from the DSM. This can make it difficult to obtain life or long-term disability insurances.
Even after you have given up privacy and obtained a medical diagnosis, the insurance company may decide they will not pay for your treatment any more, whether you are finished or not.
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Many insurance companies have not raised the rate of repayment for 15 or more years and only pay for a strict 45 or 50 minute hour.
Whatever you decide is right for you, I will be happy to provide you the information you need. I take the following insurance companies:
Tufts Health Plans
PacifiCare Behavioral Health
United Behavioral Health (UBH)
Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Inc.
Value Options
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If your insurance takes providers out of network they may cover my services; please check with your insurance provider.
PAYMENT
YOU CAN PAY WITH A CREDIT CARD BELOW
Checks, Cash and Venmo also accepted
YOU CAN PAY WITH A CREDIT CARD BELOW
Checks, Cash and Venmo also accepted