Specialties & conditions treated
Specialized, Evidence-Based Therapy for OCD, Eating Disorders, Tics, Trauma & More
Each condition I treat is matched with a research-supported therapy designed for it. Telehealth sessions for teens and adults in New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts, with affirming care for LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC clients.
Request a consultationThe right treatment for the right problem
General talk therapy can be supportive, but many conditions respond best to a specific, structured intervention. OCD improves most reliably with Exposure and Response Prevention. ARFID has its own protocol. Tics respond to a behavioral treatment built for them. My practice is organized around that principle: identify what is maintaining your symptoms, then use the approach with the strongest evidence for changing it.
Conditions I treat
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
ERPCBTIntrusive, distressing thoughts paired with compulsions, visible or mental, performed to reduce anxiety or achieve certainty. I treat the full range of presentations, including harm, contamination, relationship (ROCD), sexual orientation and identity, scrupulosity, "Pure O," just-right, and real-event OCD.
Treatment uses Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), the first-line psychological treatment for OCD.
Eating Disorders
CBT-EPersistent disturbances in eating, often accompanied by preoccupation with shape, weight, and control. I treat anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and other specified feeding or eating disorders (OSFED).
Treatment uses Enhanced Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT-E), a transdiagnostic approach that targets the mechanisms maintaining the eating disorder, such as dietary restraint, overvaluation of shape and weight, and perfectionism. When clinically indicated, I coordinate with medical providers and dietitians.
Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)
CBT-ARRestricted eating driven by sensory sensitivity, fear of aversive consequences such as choking or vomiting, or low interest in food, rather than concerns about body shape or weight.
Treatment uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for ARFID (CBT-AR), a modular protocol that gradually expands the variety and volume of foods eaten.
Tic Disorders & Tourette Syndrome
CBITRepetitive motor or vocal tics, including chronic tic disorders and Tourette syndrome, which can cause discomfort, self-consciousness, and interference at school, work, or in social settings.
Treatment uses the Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics (CBIT), which builds awareness of premonitory urges, teaches competing responses, and addresses situations that make tics worse.
Anxiety & Specific Phobias
CBTExposure therapyPersistent worry, panic, and fear of specific situations or objects, such as flying, needles, vomiting, heights, or animals, that lead to avoidance and a narrowing of daily life.
Treatment uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with structured, graduated exposure to reduce fear and rebuild confidence in previously avoided situations.
PTSD & Trauma
Prolonged ExposureIntrusive memories, nightmares, avoidance, hypervigilance, and changes in mood or beliefs following exposure to a traumatic event.
Treatment uses Prolonged Exposure (PE), an evidence-based treatment for PTSD that combines imaginal and in vivo exposure to reduce trauma-related distress and avoidance.
Substance Use
Motivational InterviewingCBTPatterns of alcohol or drug use that have become difficult to control or are affecting health, relationships, or functioning, whether your goal is reduction or abstinence.
Treatment draws on Motivational Interviewing (MI) to resolve ambivalence and strengthen commitment to change, alongside CBT strategies for managing cravings and high-risk situations. I am a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT) and have trained clinicians across New York State.
LGBTQIA+ Affirming Therapy
Affirming careSupport for self-discovery, identity exploration, coming out, gender identity, relationships, family dynamics, and the stress of navigating the world as an LGBTQIA+ person, as well as specialized treatment for any of the conditions above.
Who I work with
- Teens and adults, with family involvement for adolescents when clinically appropriate
- LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC clients seeking a therapist who understands identity, culture, and minority stress
- Clients with co-occurring conditions, such as OCD with an eating disorder or ARFID with anxiety, with treatment sequenced and integrated thoughtfully
- Clients in New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts, through secure telehealth
Insurance & fees
Insurance
Most commercial insurance plans are accepted in New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts. I'll verify your benefits before your first session so you know what to expect.
Private pay
For current private pay rates, please visit my FAQ page.
About Ricardo Despradel, LMHC
I'm a licensed psychotherapist and a queer, Latinx clinician with a telehealth practice serving New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts. In addition to my clinical work, I design and deliver continuing education for clinicians and previously served as Director of Training for Catholic Charities of Brooklyn and Queens. I hold a master's degree in psychology from Adelphi University and an advanced certification in mental health counseling from Alfred University.
Not sure which specialty fits?
You don't need to know your diagnosis to reach out. During a consultation, we'll talk through what you're experiencing and identify the treatment approach most likely to help.
Request a consultationFrequently asked questions
How do I know which type of therapy I need?
You don't need to figure that out on your own. The initial assessment clarifies your symptoms and what is maintaining them, and from there I recommend the evidence-based approach that best fits your presentation.
Can you treat more than one condition at the same time?
Yes. Co-occurring conditions are common, such as OCD with an eating disorder, or anxiety with ARFID. We prioritize based on severity and impact, and integrate treatment so progress in one area supports the other.
What is evidence-based therapy?
Evidence-based therapy refers to treatments that have been tested in clinical research and shown to be effective for specific conditions, such as ERP for OCD, CBT-E for eating disorders, CBT-AR for ARFID, CBIT for tics, and Prolonged Exposure for PTSD.
Do you offer in-person sessions?
My practice is telehealth-based. Secure video sessions are available to clients located in New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts at the time of each session.
Do you take insurance?
Yes. Most commercial insurance plans are accepted in New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts. For private pay rates, please visit my FAQ page.