Dr. Iiesha Ricks
If years of therapy, medication, books, and coping skills haven't created the change you're looking for, it may be because you've been treating the symptoms instead of the patterns producing them. Many of my clients come to me feeling frustrated, wondering why they understand their struggles yet continue to repeat the same thoughts, emotional reactions, relationship dynamics, or behaviors. My approach focuses on identifying and disrupting the developmental patterns driving those experiences by working with the brain and nervous system where they were formed and continue to be reinforced. Rather than teaching you how to better manage the same struggles, my goal is to help you create meaningful, lasting transformation so you can move forward with greater freedom, clarity, and confidence.
My greatest strength is that my treatment feels more like a conversation and less rigid.
First session
Your first session isn't about retelling your life story. It's about learning a different approach to change. We'll discuss your goals, explore what may be keeping you stuck, and determine whether my treatment approach is the right fit. I'll also explain how Brainspotting, EMDR, and neuroscience-informed treatment work together to create lasting change.
Strengths
Therapy isn't one-size-fits-all, and neither is my approach. I don't force clients through a rigid protocol. Instead, I adapt treatment to what your mind, body, and nervous system need in the moment, creating a collaborative process that promotes deeper, lasting change.
Ideal clients
My ideal clients are motivated for change but feel stuck despite years of therapy, medication, self-help books, or coping strategies. They're often insightful and understand *what* they're struggling with, but still wonder why the same thoughts, emotions, relationships, or behaviors keep resurfacing. They aren't looking for another place to talk about their problems—they're looking for an approach that helps them understand and change the patterns driving them. They're ready to do deeper work, challenge long-standing beliefs, and create meaningful, lasting transformation.
Treatment methods
EMDR
I am EMDR certified and have extensive experience using EMDR to help clients process both single-incident and complex trauma. Rather than applying EMDR as a rigid protocol, I integrate it within a treatment approach grounded in developmental psychology, neuroscience, and each client's unique needs. My goal is not simply to reduce symptoms, but to help clients resolve the patterns driving them and create lasting change.
Brainspotting
I am a Certified Brainspotting Practitioner with advanced training and clinical experience treating trauma and nervous system dysregulation. My doctoral research examined the impact of Brainspotting on psychological wellness, giving me both clinical and research-based insight into its application. I integrate Brainspotting within an individualized treatment approach grounded in developmental psychology and neuroscience to help clients identify and disrupt long-standing patterns, creating meaningful and lasting transformation.
Location
Virtual sessions