DR. JESSICA

RICK

PsyD, LP

Anxiety, Perfectionist, & Burnout Therapy for High-Achieving Adults

Based in Minneapolis, MN
Available via telehalth to all individuals residing in MN

YOU WANT A THERAPIST WHO GETS IT.

A therapist who doesn’t just ask you “and how does that make you feel?”

Someone different than the nod-and-smile, academic, cardigan-wearing, vanilla therapist tropes you’ve seen on TV or in movies.

Clients come to me because I get it. I would never ask a client to go somewhere that I haven’t gone myself. I know what it’s like to feel inadequate and insecure. I understand feeling like the weight of the world is on your shoulders and the awful feeling you get when you might let people down. I know what it's like to try to control your world through endless schedules and to-do lists, to power through at your own expense, and to live on auto-pilot without being fully present. I know that sometimes it feels like you will never feel “normal” again and sometimes you just want to give up.

When we work together, you won’t just get a trained psychologist.

You’ll also get a human being who truly understands what you’re going through. You’ll get someone who has not only been right where you are, but has also done the work to overcome these challenges.

HOW THERAPY WITH ME IS DIFFERENT

Many of today’s solutions for mental health take a one-size-fits-all approach, leading so many to feel mundane in their work with a therapist or like they are not making real progress. Some therapists focus exclusively on your symptoms and how you are feeling right now, rather than seeing you as the whole human being that you are.

I understand that you, your circumstances, and experiences are unique, so I will meet you right where you are today and support you from there. I view my role as your therapist as equal parts mental health expert and hype-woman. I’ll never push you further than you’re ready to go, but I won’t shy away from providing direct feedback or challenging you on thoughts or behaviors that might be keeping you stuck. I will be here as your cheerleader, to gently call you out when necessary and support you through the hard moments.

Clients say that I am compassionate, understanding, non-judgmental, and put them at ease with my light-hearted and down-to-earth nature. I am genuine and honest in my work as a psychologist, because I know that if I’m not real, I can’t expect you to be either.

Therapy with me is a pressure-free zone, so crying, laughing, and swearing are all equally welcome in this space. You can come to appointments, just as you are, with whatever is going on for you at that moment and know that I won’t ask you to “perform” for me. You can let your guard down and just be yourself. After all, that’s at the heart of the work we do.

MY APPROACH TO THERAPY

I empower my clients to improve their mental health and minimize their mental load with relatable evidence-based therapy.

My approach to therapy is deeply rooted in behavior change to live in alignment with what is most important to you. With that being said, here are a few themes that will likely show up in the work we do together:

EXPLORING YOUR “WHY’S”

Developmentally, our brains begin wiring and learning behaviors/patterns of interaction early in our childhood. In many ways, our current behavior or ways of thinking and feeling have been reinforced positively by our life experiences, even if they are unhealthy or promote internal suffering. In fact, many of our ways of thinking and feeling may have even been adaptive to us while growing up, but likely are causing problems now because we have outgrown the usefulness of these patterns. Exploring our past is and effective way to learn about our present.

BEHAVIOR CHANGE THROUGH ACTION ORIENTED WORK

Oftentimes we become comfortable with behavior that does not serve us well, but can lack the tools and resources to make effective change. In our work together we will explore adaptive and achievable behavior changes in alignment with your values to move you closer to obtaining your goals. Additionally, there will be space to explore feelings that arise when attempting new ways of engaging in life. Progress is enlightening but also difficult, and my goal is to offer a space free of judgment to share openly about the emotional process of changing behavior.

LEARNING TO LET GO OF CONTROL

We often feel that if we can gain control over a situation, we will feel more at peace. This is true for things within our realm of control, but the problem is that there is a LOT that falls outside our control. Our attempts to gain control over situations that are outside of our realm of control can make us feel anxious, overwhelmed, and like we are beating our head against a wall. I help my clients identify the controllables, work with what is workable, and let go of the rest.

GETTING CLEAR ON YOUR VALUES

Many of my clients have spent so much of their life catering to the needs of others that their own needs, wants, desires, and values have gone unexplored. Figuring out YOUR values and identity outside of the context of others can feel overwhelming, scary, and confusing. Lucky for you, therapy is the perfect place to start getting clear on what is important to you.

MINDFULNESS AND AWARENESS OF THE MIND-BODY CONNECTION

As research continues to highlight the importance of our physical health and wellness and its impact on our mental health, I incorporate coping skills and behavior rooted in the way we treat our bodies. Often times we can stay “in our heads” when working through difficult feelings, and by expanding our focus to the body, new awareness and insight into our feelings can begin to show up.

SOME THINGS YOU MIGHT BE CURIOUS ABOUT:

  • I view my role as a therapist as two-fold: validating that you are doing the best you can given the skills and resources you already have, while also empowering you to grow through new ways of thinking about and coping with difficult circumstances. I strive to work collaboratively with you to examine your values, foster resilience to overcome challenges, and move towards a life of purpose. An individualized and person-centered approach to therapy is central to my work with clients. Outside of this, my approach integrates aspects of various evidence-based therapies, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and positive psychology. Interpersonally, my clients describe me as “easy to talk to” and “relatable.”

  • Doctorate of Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Georgia Southern University

    Master of Science, Clinical Psychology, Georgia Southern University

    Bachelor of Science, Psychology & Health Sciences, Drake University

    I have been practicing therapy since 2016 in a wide variety of settings, including community mental health centers, outpatient mental health clinics, inpatient hospitals, and university counseling centers.

  • Licensed in MN (LP 6832)

    Member of Minnesota Psychological Association

  • I spent the majority of my childhood growing up in a small town about an hour south of Milwaukee, WI. However, I have also spent portions the past decade in Iowa, Georgia, and Kansas, so these places feel will always feel a bit like “home” to me too.

    I am a Midwesterner at heart, so I am happy to now call Minnesota my home.

  • Outside of work, I value staying active, learning new skills, and traveling (both domestically and internationally).

    I love a good book, but equally love a good (read: trashy) reality TV show. I’m a Survivor superfan and have seen every episode of all 44 seasons….probably more than once.

    I spend the majority of my time hanging out with my sweet Shiba Inu, Koda. If you’re lucky, he might pop into view during our telehealth appointments!

READY TO GET STARTED?