Richard Rivera

I came to therapy after four decades in social work and 24 years in the Army Reserves — two combat tours, Desert Storm and Iraq. I know what it means to carry something you can't fully put into words, and to keep showing up anyway. That experience lives in how I work.

I specialize in PTSD, depression, substance use, and family challenges. I work with individuals and couples, and I bring post-master's training in Marriage and Family Therapy, Substance Abuse Counseling, and Christian Counseling to every session.

I'm an LCSW trained at Rutgers University in Camden, married with six adult children and five grandchildren. That kind of family experience — the joy, the friction, the decades of figuring it out — informs how I understand the people who come to me.

My approach adapts to who's in front of me. For individuals working through PTSD, depression, or addiction, I draw on CBT to address thought patterns and Solution-Focused Brief Therapy to orient us toward what's actually possible. For couples and families, Structural Family Therapy helps map the dynamics and create real, sustainable change.

For clients who want to integrate their Christian faith into the therapeutic process, I offer that as well — using Scripture, prayer, and faith-based principles alongside clinical approaches. This isn't imposed; it's available for those who find it meaningful.

Sessions are direct and practical. I'll listen carefully, and I'll also give you something concrete to work on before we meet again.

The first session is mostly about listening and getting oriented. I'll ask questions to understand what's brought you here and what you're hoping changes — and I'll help you organize what feels like a long list of concerns into two or three clear goals to start working toward.

I don't send people home empty-handed. Before we wrap up, I'll offer a few suggestions and specific assignments to work on before our next session. Momentum matters — and we start building it in session one.