Gerard Riconda

Gerard Riconda is a licensed clinical social worker who helps people facing eating and food-related issues alongside stress, anxiety, and mood concerns. He has 28 years of practice and uses empathy to guide conversations. Gerard aims to make sessions straightforward and focused on practical steps that fit everyday life.

Gerard trained at Fordham University School of Social Services, where early work involved families and children in the foster care system. He also spent time as a medical social worker in a rehabilitation hospital, supporting people recovering from amputations, stroke, and head injuries. That mix of settings shaped a flexible, down-to-earth way of working.

Much of his career has been spent with people who are hard to reach or who have complex diagnoses. He names empathy as a central part of his style and emphasizes meeting the person where they are. Gerard uses different methods rather than relying on a single tool, and he prefers to tailor the plan to each person's needs.

Clinical approaches Gerard draws on include Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. He talks through practical skills, values-based goals, and coping strategies in clear language.

Sessions focus on what the client wants to change now and how to take small, manageable steps. Gerard works with issues such as family strains, trauma and abuse, self-esteem, relationship concerns, grief, anger, career stress, bipolar and other mood disorders, ADHD, and body image challenges.

He practices in New York and conducts sessions in English. To begin, readers are asked to use the site Start Therapy button and complete a short matching questionnaire before scheduling.

How Gerard Uses Evidence-Based Approaches Online

Gerard commonly draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in his work. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy focuses on clarifying values and taking small actions toward them, which can help with eating concerns, anxiety, and feeling stuck. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy looks at the links between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and teaches practical skills to shift unhelpful patterns.

He also uses Client-Centered therapy to keep sessions grounded in empathy and the client's goals. That approach emphasizes listening, reflection, and collaborating on what matters most. Choosing the right mix of approaches is a collaborative process; Gerard works with each person to find what fits their needs, goals, and preferences rather than prescribing a single method up front.

Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into busy lives by reducing travel time and allowing appointments during breaks or between activities. It also lets people choose quieter surroundings or shorter check-ins when that helps. Confirm the current session options before booking so you know which formats are offered for your work with Gerard.