THERAPY SERVICES IN NEW YORK & MASSACHUSETTS

I’m Ricardo Despradel, LMHC, and I provide specialized, evidence-based therapy for OCD, eating disorders, trauma, and substance use in New York and Massachusetts. Through secure telehealth sessions, I offer personalized treatment using proven approaches like Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and CBT-E for eating disorders. I work with teens and adults across diverse backgrounds—including LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC clients—helping them break free from intrusive thoughts, body image distress, and compulsive behaviors. Whether you're struggling with anxiety, identity-related stress, or recovery from addiction, I offer affirming, results-driven care designed to meet you exactly where you are.

Specialties Treated

Person washing hands with soap under running water in a kitchen sink because of OCD.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition marked by intrusive, distressing thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors or mental rituals (compulsions) performed to relieve anxiety. Common themes include fears of contamination, harm, or moral wrongdoing, and behaviors like excessive checking, cleaning, or reassurance-seeking.

A woman with curly hair and eating disorder looks annoyed as she eats cereal from a brown mug, holding a spoon in her right hand with cereal on it, and resting her face on her left hand.

Eating Disorders (ED)

Eating Disorders are serious mental health conditions involving persistent disturbances in eating behaviors, body image, and emotional regulation around food and weight. They may include restrictive eating, bingeing, purging, or compulsive exercise, and often stem from a combination of biological, psychological, and social factors. Common diagnoses include Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, Binge Eating Disorder, and ARFID.

A person with alcoholism, long hair and a beard uncorks a bottle of whiskey.

Substance Use Disorders (SUDs)

Substance Use Disorders (SUDs) involve a pattern of compulsive use of alcohol or drugs despite negative consequences to health, relationships, or daily functioning. Symptoms may include cravings, loss of control, tolerance, withdrawal, and continued use despite harm.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event, such as abuse, violence, accidents, or loss. It is characterized by intrusive memories, nightmares, avoidance of reminders, heightened arousal (e.g., irritability, hypervigilance), and negative changes in mood or beliefs.

Evidence based services provided in NYC and Massachusetts.

Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)

Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is the gold-standard, evidence-based treatment for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). ERP involves gradually and intentionally exposing individuals to feared thoughts, situations, or images (exposures) while helping them resist the urge to engage in compulsive behaviors (response prevention). Over time, this process reduces anxiety, weakens the power of intrusive thoughts, and builds tolerance to uncertainty. ERP is highly effective across OCD subtypes and is often delivered in a structured, collaborative, and individualized format to promote long-term symptom relief and improved daily functioning.
Enhanced Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT-E)

Enhanced Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT-E) is a leading, evidence-based treatment specifically designed for individuals with eating disorders, including anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, and other disordered eating patterns. CBT-E targets the underlying thoughts, behaviors, and beliefs that maintain the eating disorder—such as perfectionism, body image concerns, and rigid food rules. Treatment focuses on normalizing eating patterns, reducing avoidance, and promoting cognitive flexibility. CBT-E is transdiagnostic, meaning it’s effective across a range of eating disorder presentations, and is tailored to each individual’s symptoms, medical needs, and recovery goals.
Prolonged Exposure (PE)

Prolonged Exposure (PE) is a gold-standard, evidence-based treatment for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). It helps individuals reduce trauma-related distress by gradually confronting trauma memories, thoughts, and situations they’ve been avoiding. PE involves two core components: imaginal exposure (revisiting and processing the traumatic memory in a safe, therapeutic setting) and in vivo exposure (facing real-life situations that feel threatening but are objectively safe). Over time, this process reduces fear, avoidance, and emotional reactivity, allowing individuals to regain control over their lives and experience lasting relief from PTSD symptoms.