Rick Rodgers, LCSW - Therapist at Grow Therapy

Rick Rodgers

Rick Rodgers

LCSW
10 years of experience
Virtual

Rick, a therapist with over a decade of experience, specializes in guiding adults to heal from trauma, substance abuse, and narcissistic abuse. He supports clients in overcoming challenges and building fulfilling lives through EMDR, Internal Family Systems, and personalized approaches. Rick offers a safe, nurturing space to foster self-awareness, resilience, and authentic connection for those ready to embark on their healing journey.

What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?

Your first session will center on fostering trust, exploring your goals, and outlining the therapeutic approach. Together, we’ll establish expectations and start your path to healing and recovery.

Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.

This practice embodies empathy and deep expertise in trauma and addiction recovery, with a tailored therapeutic approach. It emphasizes building resilience, providing patient, persistent support for your unique healing and growth journey.

Describe the client(s) you are best positioned to serve.

This practice supports adults healing from trauma, substance use disorders, and narcissistic abuse. Serving clients feeling stuck, seeking sobriety, or recovering from narcissistic relationships, it offers empathetic, evidence-based therapy. Personalized, integrative strategies address root causes, empowering those committed to self-discovery and healing.

About Rick Rodgers

Identifies as

Man

Specializes in

Serves ages

Teenagers (13 to 17)

Appointments

Virtual

My treatment methods

Acceptance and commitment (ACT)

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a powerful tool that I frequently use in my practice. It's a mindfulness-based approach that helps individuals develop psychological flexibility. This means learning to accept difficult thoughts and feelings without judgment, making conscious choices based on values, and taking action towards those values even when facing challenges. I've found ACT particularly helpful for clients struggling with anxiety, depression, trauma, and addiction. For example, with a client experiencing social anxiety, ACT can help them acknowledge their anxious thoughts without letting them dictate their actions. This allows them to engage in social situations that align with their values, even if anxiety is present. In sessions, I might use mindfulness exercises to increase present-moment awareness, guide values clarification to connect actions with personal meaning, and employ cognitive diffusion techniques to create distance from unhelpful thoughts. By weaving ACT into my approach, I aim to empower clients to live a richer, more meaningful life, guided by their values even in the face of adversity.

Mindfulness-Based Therapy

Mindfulness-Based Therapy (MBT) is a cornerstone of my practice. It's an approach that emphasizes present-moment awareness, helping individuals observe their thoughts, feelings, and sensations without judgment. This non-reactive observation allows for greater understanding of internal experiences and cultivates a compassionate stance towards oneself. I integrate MBT in various ways, often starting with simple mindfulness exercises like focused breathing or body scans. This helps clients develop a greater awareness of their internal state and how it influences their actions. For someone struggling with addiction, for instance, MBT can help them recognize cravings without immediately giving in, creating space for healthier choices. MBT is incredibly versatile and complements other therapeutic approaches. It's particularly effective for managing anxiety, reducing stress, and improving emotional regulation. By cultivating mindfulness, I aim to empower clients to respond to challenges with greater awareness and choice, fostering a deeper connection to themselves and their values.

Cognitive Processing (CPT)

Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) is a specific type of therapy I use primarily with clients who have experienced trauma, particularly PTSD. It's a structured approach that helps individuals understand and reframe how they think about their traumatic experiences. In my experience, CPT is incredibly valuable for those struggling with the aftermath of trauma. It helps clients identify and challenge unhelpful thought patterns that may have developed as a result of their trauma, leading to feelings of guilt, shame, or self-blame. For example, a client who experienced a car accident might blame themselves for the event, even if it was outside their control. CPT helps them examine and challenge these beliefs, leading to a more balanced and realistic understanding of the trauma. When using CPT, I typically guide clients through a process of identifying "stuck points" – those thoughts and beliefs that keep them feeling trapped in the trauma. We then work together to challenge those stuck points using evidence and logic, ultimately creating a new narrative that promotes healing and growth. CPT also incorporates writing assignments to further process and integrate these new understandings. It's a powerful tool that can lead to significant shifts in how individuals view themselves and their experiences, fostering a sense of empowerment and control in the aftermath of trauma.

EMDR

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a powerful therapeutic approach I frequently utilize in my practice, particularly with clients who have experienced trauma. It's a unique therapy that involves bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements, taps, or tones, while processing traumatic memories. This process helps to reprocess the memories, reducing their emotional intensity and negative impact. I've witnessed firsthand how EMDR can unlock profound healing for individuals struggling with PTSD, anxiety, and other trauma-related issues. For example, a client haunted by a car accident might vividly recall the event with intense fear and anxiety. Through EMDR, they can reprocess the memory, reducing the associated distress and allowing them to move forward. In sessions, I carefully guide clients through the eight phases of EMDR, starting with history taking and preparation. Then, we identify specific targets – memories, beliefs, and sensations related to the trauma. During the reprocessing phases, clients focus on these targets while engaging in bilateral stimulation. This facilitates a natural healing process within the brain, allowing for a reduction in emotional distress and the development of more adaptive beliefs. EMDR is not a quick fix, but it can be incredibly effective in helping individuals move beyond the grip of trauma and reclaim their lives.

Internal Family Systems (IFS)

Internal Family Systems (IFS) is a transformative therapy model that I deeply value in my work. It views the mind as comprised of various "parts," each with its own unique perspective, emotions, and intentions. These parts often develop in response to life experiences, and while they may have positive intentions, they can sometimes lead to internal conflict and unhelpful patterns. IFS has been incredibly insightful for my clients, helping them understand their inner world with greater clarity and compassion. For instance, someone struggling with procrastination might discover a "perfectionist part" that fears failure, leading to avoidance. IFS helps them understand and work with this part, rather than fighting against it. In sessions, I guide clients to identify and connect with their different parts, exploring their roles and intentions. We work towards creating internal harmony and self-acceptance, allowing these parts to cooperate and support the individual's overall well-being. IFS is a gentle yet powerful approach that fosters self-compassion and empowers individuals to navigate challenges with greater awareness and choice.