(he/him)
Born and raised in New York City. Graduated from Loyola Stritch School of Medicine. Received my Psychiatric Residency training at Columbia and Cornell. Thereafter, I was a Clinical Professor at NYU. In additional, I have had the privilege of working in New York, Virginia, and California in Senior Management positions and as provider of multiple behavioral health care systems. I have extensive clinical expertise in psychotherapy, psychopharmacology, and the interface between medical and surgical pathology with behavioral health disorders. My clinical focus emphasizes a comprehensive approach in working with adolescents, adults, and with emphasis upon kindness and compassion. This practice style includes mindfulness strategies, nutritional health, exercise programs and a healthy, balanced lifestyle. My longstanding purpose in life is one of helping others which also includes continuous learning and sharing this knowledge and wisdom with others. Interests include love of nature, hiking, physical fitness, baseball, tennis, rescue dogs and, most importantly, my family and friends.
The first visit or consultation is one of getting to know each other. Obtaining a thorough history is very important, but I do so by explaining strategies along the way that may be helpful in the present. I place emphasis upon listening carefully in a kind and compassionate fashion. Together we will develop guidelines and goals for treatment during our first visit together. However, this can require several visits and with emphasis also placed upon establishing a trusting working relationship or therapeutic alliance.
I have 50 years of clinical experience. I do not think I know everything and I continue to learn. I am very committed to helping people which why I am still practicing at this stage of my life. I have obtained a vast data bank of information and experiences that has helped me to use the wisdom of that knowledge and experience in helping others. I also emphasize a comprehensive approach and, with my Internal Medicine background we look at lifestyle changes that can be a factor in anyone's quality of life. Having been in leadership roles for more than 40 years of my career, I have developed expertise in using multiple types of psychotherapy which includes DBT, CBT, mindfulness strategies, supportive psychotherapy, and psychoanalytic psychotherapy. I have developed the ability to modify my approach according to each individual's potential responsiveness to any of these modalities of treatment or a combination of such to help them in an optimal fashion. I have extensive experience and expertise in using psychiatric medications to facilitate one's improvement over time. This modality of treatment is used very conservatively and not as a sole source of helping my patients. If a patient would like to use me for the sole purpose of medication management, I am open to that option as long as you are willing to a referral for a capable therapist, if clinically indicated. I have always put emphasis upon an approach of comprehensive care. In other words, putting the whole package together as the best way of helping my patients. I do not use a cookbook approach but individualized treatment for each and every one of my patients. In conclusion, my greatest strength is having joy and dedication in successfully helping my patients reach their therapeutic goals over time.
And I truly enjoy working with people who are motivated to insightfully work toward healthy goals. In particular, I have enjoyed working with adolescents and young adults. However, regardless of age, we all can continue to learn and can grow from present and past challenges. It has been my purpose in life to help individuals make improvements, as a facilitator, in working through their conflicts/challenges/trauma. Understanding what is wrong intellectually is a first step and requires time to work toward developing an emotional understanding of self and strategies that can help one to ideally resolve or lessen their conflicts within and with others. Together, we will identify your challenges and goals and where you want your life to be or how you would like it to improve in the present, in 3 months, 6 months or a year from your 1st visit. I will help you to develop an improved inner awareness, self-esteem and actions that you can make to achieve these goals. There will always be room for suggestions concerning our work together, including keeping each other accountable. We will learn from each other and together.
Mindfulness-Based Therapy
I have extensive clinical expertise in psychotherapy, psychopharmacology, and the interface between medical and surgical pathology with behavioral health disorders. My clinical focus emphasizes a comprehensive approach in working with adolescents, adults, and with kindness and compassion. This practice style includes mindfulness strategies, nutritional health, exercise programs and a healthy, balanced lifestyle. Mindfulness strategies can also include meditation, journaling with emphasis upon kindness and compassion toward self and others.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I have been using CBT strategies for decades in helping patients who suffer from severe anxiety, panic disorders, and depression. Learning grounding skills can be instrumental in helping one to feel less stress and in turn work through past trauma or challenges that they are facing in the present.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
I have used DBT strategies in particular for those people who have had struggles with trauma or impulsive behaviors associated with emotional storms. This is particularly helpful for adolescents and young adults. This is also often used in conjunction with group therapy.
Psychoanalytic
I have extensive training and experience in working with the patient's who prefer to process their conflicts present and past through psychoanalytic psychotherapy. This usually requires at least weekly visits for effectiveness and a 3 to six-month duration of time commitment.
Supportive
Supportive therapy can also be helpful for those who are struggling with medical problems or are unable to resolve the conflicts through alternative psychotherapeutic strategies with an emphasis upon establishing a supportive relationship for purposes of helping them to learn corrective emotional coping strategies.
5 ratings with written reviews
March 3, 2026
He's very kind, down to earth and considerate. He made me feel warm and that his concern and recommendations are sincere. I appreciate your time.
February 21, 2026
Dr. Alessi is intelligent, solution oriented, and compassionate.
February 3, 2026
I was so nervous about my first session; however, it went amazing. He not only gave me options for medication, but Dr. Robert also suggested other options in order to help me.