About Ricardo
Ricardo Ortega is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor who brings 15 years of experience to his practice in New York. He speaks English and Spanish and aims to create a respectful, compassionate space where people can talk through pressing concerns. Ricardo focuses on practical steps that fit each person's life and needs.
He draws on Client-Centered Therapy to make conversations collaborative and grounded in the client's priorities. He also uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people identify and change thoughts and habits that get in the way of feeling better.
Background and approach
Emotionally-Focused Therapy is part of his work when relationship feelings and attachment patterns are central. Ricardo helps with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, and self-esteem struggles. He supports people facing addiction, career challenges, and big life changes.
He also works with LGBT concerns and parenting stress in ways that respect each person’s identity and values. Over his career he has worked with issues related to aging, disaster response, first responder stress, HIV/AIDS, hospice and end-of-life care, immigration, veteran concerns, multicultural matters, polyamory and non-monogamous relationships, prejudice, sexual assault, and young adult transitions.
That range informs flexible strategies and realistic goals. Sessions are offered by video call, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging. Ricardo helps set a pace that fits a person’s schedule and readiness, tailoring each plan as needs evolve.
Therapeutic approaches that work well online
Ricardo combines client-centered work with cognitive behavioral and emotionally-focused techniques to help people reach clear goals. Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening, empathy, and following the client's lead so sessions match each person's priorities and pace. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy looks at unhelpful thoughts and behaviors and teaches practical skills to change them, which can help with anxiety, depression, and stress. Emotionally-Focused Therapy helps people name and work through intense feelings, which is useful when relationship patterns or attachment issues are central.Finding the right approach is part of the process. Ricardo will talk with each person about their needs, goals, and preferences and choose methods together. That means plans can shift over time if something else seems a better fit, and homework or skills practice will be adapted to real life.
Online therapy offers practical benefits for many people. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation when tone and expression matter. Phone sessions work well when bandwidth is limited or a shorter check-in fits a break at work. Live chat and text-based messaging let someone send quick updates, ask questions between sessions, or use a less formal route for processing thoughts. These options make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life and to stay consistent while working toward change.
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does Ricardo address?
What is his general therapy style?
How much experience does he have?
Where is he licensed and based?
Which languages are available for sessions?
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Specialties and expertise
Top specialties
Also works with
- Addictions
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Career difficulties
- Coaching
- Coping with life changes
- Coping with natural or human-caused disaster
- Depression
- First responder issues
- HIV / AIDS
- Hospice and end-of-life counseling
- Immigration issues
- Multicultural concerns
- Parenting issues
- Polyamory / non-monogamous relationships
- Prejudice and discrimination
- Relationship issues
- Self esteem
- Sexual assault and abuse
- Veteran and Armed Forces Issues
- Young adult issues
Therapeutic approaches
- Experience
- 15 years
- Licensed
- New York
- Languages
- English, Spanish