About Rick Nizzardini

I found my way into the psychotherapy profession after several years as an attorney in Washington, D.C. While I enjoyed the systemic impact of legal practice, I quickly realized that I was more interested in what is happening inside us and how we can understand ourselves better to feel more fulfilled in our lives. With that realization, I went off to earn my Master's in Social Work from Smith College School for Social Work in Northampton, Massachusetts. I then made my way to California and obtained my license with the Board of Behavioral Sciences (License Number 20716) in 2002.

Right after graduation, through a Soros Justice Fellowship I was awarded in 1999, I created the Men’s Sexual Trauma Program. The Program, located within the San Francisco Rape Treatment Center, was a therapy, research, and education program focusing specifically on the care of men who are survivors of sexual abuse, incest and rape. Throughout my career, I have provided clinical support for survivors of all genders and sexualities. I have worked at hospitals, mental health and health clinics, and a university counseling center.

I have also continued to develop my psychotherapy skills since graduation. In 2015, I completed the Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Training Program at the San Francisco Center for Psychoanalysis and have taken numerous trainings on Internal Family Systems.

I have held the following positions:

Clinical Counselor/Faculty, San Francisco State University Counseling & Psychological Services Center and the San Francisco State University Residential Life Program
Director and Clinical Social Worker, Continuum Adult Day Health Program and the MediCal Waiver and Nursing Case Management Programs for Individuals Living with HIV and AIDS
Mental Health and Complementary Care Services Manager and Therapist, Glide Health Services
Coordinator, Men's Sexual Trauma Program, San Francisco Rape Treatment Center
Clinical Social Worker, San Francisco General Hospital Psychosocial Medicine Outpatient Mental Health Clinic, and Trauma Recovery Outpatient Program
Volunteer Therapist, New Leaf Outpatient Men’s Mental Health Services Program

I have several areas of expertise and work with clients of all genders and sexualities, including LGBTQ clients:

Individual Therapy

Relationship / Couples Therapy

Stress and anxiety
Depression
Couples / relationship conflict and stress
Traumatic experiences, complex posttraumatic stress, and PTSD, including verbal, emotional, sexual or physical abuse as a child, adolescent or adult; life threatening accidents; sudden death of a loved one; urban violence; intimate partner or family violence; or sexual assault or harassment
Sexual identity concerns, including coming out as LGBTQIA+; relationship issues for individuals who identify as LGBTQIA+; and how to manage the conflicts between one’s different identities/roles
Sexuality concerns, including sexual functioning (for individuals and couples of all sexual orientations); substance use and sex; religion and sexuality conflicts; and sexuality and living with a disability or chronic medical condition
Substance use/abuse, including exploring harm-reduction strategies for cutting back
Conflict in work/personal relationships, including ways to manage conflict, remove oneself from the emotional aspects of conflict in the workplace, and create relationships that can function more effectively with less conflict
Managing a chronic medical condition, including cancer and HIV
Managing change (in one’s personal or work life)
Grief and loss
Time management, including strategies for creating behavioral changes to manage time more effectively, as well as to address procrastination habits
College aged young adult struggles and concerns

Please note: A therapeutic relationship is not established by use of this site.
This site does not offer medical advice or online therapy services.