Grief counselors and therapists in District of Columbia

I believe therapy works best when people feel genuinely seen, understood, and accepted. I strive to create a warm, thoughtful, and collaborative space where clients can bring all parts of themselves without fear of judgment. My style is compassionate, curious, and relational, I pay close attention not only to what is happening in your life, but also to how your emotional experiences have been shaped over time and how they live in the body, relationships, and inner world.

I work especially well with individuals navigating identity, belonging, life transitions, relational struggles, existential questions, and the impact of cultural or intergenerational experiences. As someone deeply attuned to the experiences of first-generation and immigrant communities, I understand how culture, family expectations, and systems can shape emotional life in complex ways.

I see therapy as a partnership. Rather than positioning myself as someone who has all the answers, I aim to walk alongside clients with honesty, care, and curiosity as we make sense of patterns, emotions, and experiences together.

Dr. Rivera employs an integrative style that focuses on the individual's sleep, diet, physical and mental fitness. He enjoys working in particular with weight loss, men's wellness, de-prescription from psychotropic medications, and detox from long-term substance use: tobacco, alcohol, opioids, and benzodiazepines. Furthermore, he specializes in the diagnosis and management of attention, mood, anxiety, and psychotic disorders.

Clients often tell me they feel both deeply understood and gently challenged in our work. You won’t be met with quick fixes or surface-level advice. Instead, I offer a grounded, relational space where we can slow down, get curious, and make sense of the patterns—emotional, relational, historical—that are shaping your current struggles. I’m especially attuned to the inner lives of high-achieving adults: those who appear competent on the outside but feel overwhelmed, disconnected, or unseen underneath.

I’m trained in psychodynamic therapy, Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), and EMDR, and I approach each client with a blend of clinical precision and emotional presence. You can expect warmth, honesty, and an active collaboration toward lasting emotional change.

With 8 years of experience in the mental health field, I firmly believe in the parity of mental and physical health. Life often leads us into dark tunnels, and my role in therapy is to guide individuals toward the light at the end of those tunnels.

As a Trauma Informed Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker, I am passionate about helping adolescents and adults fulfill their dreams, goals and highest aspirations. It is my belief that if you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.

I am a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW-C and LICSW) who works with adults navigating anxiety, stress, relationship concerns, self-esteem, grief and loss, chronic pain, and life transitions. I understand that emotional well-being can be affected by relationships, physical health, past experiences, and significant changes. My goal is to provide a supportive space where clients feel heard, respected, and empowered.