David Richard

I'm a licensed clinical psychologist and professor with more than 30 years in the field. I trained at the University of Hawaiʻi (PhD), Harvard (EdM), and UC San Diego, and I'm the founding director of the clinical psychology master's program at Radford University. I work with adults 18 and older, especially college students and men in their 20s and 30s. I specialize in trauma, anxiety, depression, and behavioral addictions: compulsive gaming, problematic pornography use, gambling, and other internet-related habits that have started to take over. I co-edited The Wiley-Blackwell Handbook of Disordered Gambling and the Handbook of Exposure Therapies, so my work with clients is grounded in current research. Many of my clients carry shame or strained relationships, and I offer a space where those can be talked about openly and without judgment.

My style is active, collaborative, and curious. We'll work together to understand what's keeping you stuck, then use proven methods to change it. Those include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), exposure-based therapies for anxiety and trauma, and practical behavioral strategies for habits like gaming, gambling, or pornography use. I also draw on existential approaches to help you clarify what matters to you and build a life that fits who you are. For behavioral addictions, we focus on why the habit took hold and what you want instead, not just on cutting back. You'll leave sessions with concrete ideas to try between visits.

In our first session, I'll get to know you: what brings you in, what you've already tried, and what you'd like to be different. I'll ask a lot of questions, and you're welcome to ask me anything too. By the end, we'll have a working picture of what's going on and a first plan for treatment. You're the expert on your life, so your goals guide our work. Sessions are 60 minutes, by secure video.