specializing in OCD, phobias, Body -focused repetitive behaviors & Anxiety Related Disorders
Hi, I’m Kristin Rispoli- Licensed Mental health counselor
Exploring yourself is a vulnerable process. It takes courage to begin the search for a mental health provider.
I strive to create a safe, welcoming, and nonjudgmental environment where clients feel comfortable being open, vulnerable, and fully themselves. I believe therapy works best when it is a collaborative process built on trust, connection, and shared goals.
Throughout my years working in hospital settings, I learned firsthand how important communication and collaboration among providers can be. I value a team-based approach to care and, with your permission, welcome the opportunity to collaborate with other members of your treatment team, including psychiatrists, to help ensure your care is as comprehensive and cohesive as possible.
My commitment to my clients extends beyond the therapy hour. I believe meaningful progress happens through consistency, thoughtfulness, and genuine investment in each person's journey. I want my clients to know that their care and progress matter to me, both inside and outside of our sessions.
My Approach
I believe every client is unique, and therapy should reflect that. My approach focuses on treating the whole person rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach. I draw from multiple therapeutic modalities and tailor treatment to each individual's needs, experiences, and goals.
I have extensive training in various forms of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), with specialized experience in Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) and the ComB model. ERP is the gold-standard, evidence-based treatment for OCD and is also an effective approach for conditions such as phobias and panic disorder. The ComB model is an individualized, evidence-informed approach used to treat body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs), including hair pulling and skin picking.
I also recognize that our experiences and histories can influence the ways we experience and respond to anxiety and other mental health challenges. For some individuals, exploring past experiences, including trauma and childhood experiences, may be a meaningful part of the therapeutic process. When appropriate, I incorporate approaches such as inner child work to help clients better understand themselves, process past experiences, and support their overall healing.
Ultimately, my goal is to provide thoughtful, individualized treatment that addresses not only the symptoms bringing someone to therapy, but also the person behind those symptoms.
experience/education
I began working in the mental health field shortly after completing my undergraduate education. My very first position was working overnight as a psychiatric technician at a local psychiatric hospital. It was important to me to immerse myself in the field and gain firsthand experience for a few years before making the commitment to graduate school.
My professional background also includes case management at an addiction treatment center, leading an Intensive Outpatient Program, facilitating therapeutic groups in hospital settings, and working within a group therapy practice. I earned my graduate degree in Mental Health Counseling from Nova Southeastern University in 2016.
My understanding of OCD comes not only from my clinical training, but also from a lifetime of personal experience. Having navigated OCD from childhood through adulthood, I understand how differently it can show up across various stages of life. This personal connection allows me to bring an added level of understanding and compassion to my work with clients. I know how debilitating OCD can be, but I also know that with the right treatment, remission is possible.
Post Graduate CONTINUING EDUCATION
** indicates Kristin being a presenter
Treating Obsessive Compulsive Disorder in Children & Adolescents - 13 hours
4- Day Intensive Workshop: Exposure and Response Therapy for OCD- 27 hours
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy- Insomnia -3 hours
CBT- Based Treatment for Trichotillomania & Skin Picking Disorder - 13 hours
Treatment of Childhood Behavior Disorders - 3 hours
Interpersonal Neurobiology in Trauma Therapy - 3 hours
Watch Children at Play - Introduction to Play Therapy - 2 hours
Compulsions, tics, or stims. Understanding the difference to direct more effective treatment -1.5 hours
ERP, ACT, & I-CBT: Consideration in Treatment Selection for OCD- 1.5 hours
Navigating Comorbid OCD & PTSD - 1.5 hours
Thinking Beyond Textbooks: Creative Strategies for Treating Uncommon OCD Presentations - 1.5 hours
Toys, Tunes, Crafts, and Laughs: Utilizing Play & Practice in OCD Treatment with Youth - 1.5 hours
Building Effective Exposure Hierarchies/Menus for OCD Treatment- 1.5 hours
Neuromodulation and Neurosurgery for OCD - 1.5 hours
OCD and Mood Disorders: Clinical and Lived Experience Perspectives on a Complex Relationship- 1.5 hours
A Complex Comorbidity, Part Two: OCD + PTSD Across the Lifespan - 1.5 hours
** Don’t Let ROCD Be a Third Wheel in Your Relationships - 1.5 hours
** Demon Hunters and Dream Catchers: Crafting Strength and Hop to Beat OCD
A group for Elementary aged children at an IOCDF Conference
Exposure With Purpose: Using ACT to Supercharge ERP and Engagement - 1.5 hours
Certainty, perfectionism, and harm: Identity Intersections in the LGBTQ+ people -1.5 hours
**Parents & Parenting: Supporting parents who are skin picking, or parenting someone with skin picking and other BFRBs
Show and tell! A demonstration of our favorite OCD skills for kids, teens, and young adults- 1.25 hours
Advanced Skills in BFRB Treatment - 1.25 hours
Supporting Parents of Youth With OCD: An Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Approach for Clinicians and Families - 1.25 hours
Future Directions in BFRB Research and Treatment: A Multidisciplinary Panel - 1.25 hours
Demystifying Postpartum OCD: From the Research Lab to the Therapist’s Office - 1.25 hours
Practicing Through Discomfort: Navigating Conflicting Worldviews in Therapy - 1.25 hours
We Got You! Making Procrastination Less Overwhelming with OCD, Anxiety, or ADHD - 1.25 hours
