About Dr. Richman
Hello and welcome to my private practice. I want to share a little about myself with you.
Education and Experience
Dr. Melissa Richman has an impressive educational background, having earned a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Pepperdine University in 1991, a master’s degree in social work from the University of Southern California in 1994, and her Doctor of Psychology in 2001. She received her LCSW from the Board of Behavioral Science Examiners in 1997 and has served as a Clinical Social Worker and Psychiatric Social Worker in local hospitals such as Northridge Hospital and Cedars Sinai Medical Center.
Addiction/Mental Health Program and Consultancy
Dr. Richman supervised and managed the Partial Hospitalization Addiction/Mental Health program at Cedars Sinai Medical Center from 1998-2000. She has also had experience in business healthcare where she consulted for healthcare companies, assisting practitioners throughout California to work with the managed care system.
CLIENTS/SPECIALIZATIONS
Dr. Richman’s focus has been in treating all forms of addiction, intimacy, relationship, trauma, depression, anger, divorce, and anxiety issues. Dr. Richman’s clients include families, adults, and couples. Dr. Richman’s doctoral focus was in personality which is the foundation for a relational approach to her client relationships. She continues to be a contributor to media, social media, and television which offers a nice balance to her clinical practice.
A specific aspect of Dr. Richman’s practice is working with business professionals and entities assisting executives in building repairing and promoting healthy relationship. Conjoint psychotherapy and coaching offer many rewards in teaching partners, EMPATHY, and communication as key characteristics of a healthy foundation. Like all partnerships, RELATIONSHIP is everything and the most important ingredient of success, often like a marriage.
Another niche in Dr. Richman’s practice is in providing an opportunity for a less traumatic healthier divorce process. She works with couples going through divorce in a “Curative” and “Collaborative” process. The least amount of damage is necessary especially if there are children involved. Dr. Richman believes in an integrative approach with family law attorneys and mediators to assist her clients in the divorce process. The ending of a marriage is a significant change in life.
COLLABORATION WITH OTHER PROFESSIONALS
Dr. Richman’s work with colleagues that collaborate is really a needed and special quality among healthcare professionals today. It provides exceptional care. With the client’s authorization, a collaborative approach is necessary between physician and clinician, clinician to clinician, or professional to professional.
TREATMENT PHILOSOPHY
Dr. Richman has a dual degree with a MSW as s licensed clinical social worker and a Doctorate in counseling psychology. This has allowed me to share a great many rewards and lessons in understanding human nature and relationship development. It offers a thorough understanding of relationship attachment/behavior. Together, she will support you in building a healthier, more authentic relationship with yourself. She will journey through many layers and explore parts of yourself while healing shame, resolving grief and loss. She will integrate western traditional psychotherapy as well as teach eastern practice and philosophy to help modulate emotional dysregulation as needed during the treatment experience. The end goal is to find contentment and a more unstuck self while having fulfilling relationships personally and professionally. “Dr. Richman’s focus is to offer with great humility the chance to empower her patients by cultivating a ‘partnership’ style relationship through their treatment. This is the main agent of change in patient care, and she feels it is a crucial factor in the cohesiveness and progression of her client’s recovery. Because of the intimate nature of therapy, the therapeutic alliance becomes the most essential component of success. By entering my clients’ world in a light of support, respect, and safety, Dr. Richman will help you seek change through awareness and enlightenment. Being bound to act in a client’s best interest is a high calling that she believes permits no compromise.
Final Thoughts
Psychotherapy is a process that is invaluable. Dr. Richman believes connection and collaboration with her patients is the key to driving change in patient care. The therapeutic relationship sets the stage. To help her clients, she strives to understand their unique perspective and support them in a safe and respectful environment. By guiding and navigating them through a deep exploration of their thoughts and feelings, we work towards achieving meaningful change. If we can alter our subjective reality, then relief and a new perception will follow. That is the essence of this journey to anyone who seeks a psychotherapy.
