Hi there, I’m Dr. Richard Morhaime.
Come as you are—we’ll start moving forward from there.
I’m a clinical psychologist with 25+ years of experience, serving clients online across California, Florida, and New York. I specialize in supporting teens and adults who are struggling with anxiety, OCD, depression, and other challenges related to navigating the ups and downs of life.
You may feel stuck right now, but you don’t have to stay there.
I work with teens and adults who…
Feel overwhelmed trying to balance work or school, family and friends, and facing new stages of life.
Find themselves caught up in worries, behaviors, or phobias they can’t seem to get a handle on.
Are battling depressive moods and having a hard time mustering the energy to pull themselves out of it.
Want deeper relationships, but are having trouble making connections that feel authentic.
Appreciate having a therapist who understands the shorthand associated with growing up Jewish in the U.S.
Are ready to see a positive difference in themselves, and open to new perspectives and strategies that can help them get there.
My Approach
Support that’s proactive, practical, & focused on what matters to you.
As a therapist, I’m honest and direct, but always supportive. You’ll get encouragement when things feel hard, feedback when I think you could benefit from a different perspective, and strategies you can put into practice right away. We’ll spend time getting clear on what you value and creating a plan for your treatment, so we’re on the same page about what you want out of our work together.
It’s important to me that what we do in therapy feels useful and carries over into your daily life. In session, we’ll look at what’s been going on and talk it through, but progress really happens when you take action between sessions by trying out what we’ve discussed. Depending on what we’re working on, that might mean experimenting with responding in new ways to anxious thoughts, scheduling small activities to lift your mood, or taking a step toward something you’ve been avoiding.
Research—and my own experience over the many years I’ve been doing this work—shows that the more you practice outside of sessions, the quicker you’ll notice change taking hold. My role is to guide you and keep therapy focused, so you leave each session knowing what to do next and feeling more confident about what lies ahead.
Therapy with me is:
Down-to-earth.
Therapy doesn’t have to feel stiff, clinical, or formal. We’re all human here, and it’s okay to be yourself with me—I’ll never judge what you choose to share in our sessions.
A collaborative effort.
You know yourself best, so we’ll work together to figure out what’s getting in the way and how to move forward.
Flexible.
We’ll adapt our approach based on what you need right now. That way, we can ensure you’re getting what’s most helpful from our work together.
Engaging.
I’m not a blank void who will only ask “and how does that make you feel?” This is a two-way conversation, focused on getting you where you want to go.
Therapy with me is not:
A lecture.
I won’t ever get up on a soapbox to talk down to you or overwhelm you with therapy jargon. Instead, we’ll connect and build a real and trusting relationship with one another.
Passive or aimless.
We’re here to take action toward the life you want, so we’ll decide early in each session what to focus on that day, to ensure our time feels productive and purposeful. I’ll also check in often for feedback through weekly surveys and keep track of your progress.
All doom and gloom.
Of course we’ll be discussing serious things, but humor can be helpful for processing and for building a warm therapeutic relationship, so don’t be surprised if we sometimes find ourselves laughing together during a session.
Phony.
I show up as myself and occasionally share my own feelings and perspective, when I think it might be helpful to you.
My Specialties:
My Methods:
-
CBT is at the heart of how I work. With this model of therapy, we’ll look at the connection between your thoughts, your mood, and your behavior, and how each affects the others. A lot of times, we assume our thoughts are true and valid without ever challenging them or testing them out against reality. Together, we’ll slow things down and examine those automatic thoughts so you can gain some insight into when they might be distorted, then learn how to respond differently. CBT is an evidence-based approach, and with practice, you’ll gain tools you can use long after therapy ends.
-
This approach helps you relate to your thoughts and feelings in a new way. Instead of trying to get rid of uncomfortable emotions, you learn how to notice them, make space for them, and keep moving toward the things that matter most to you. That could look like developing mindfulness skills, clarifying and staying connected to your values, or learning how to unhook from thoughts that keep you stuck. These practices allow you to live your life according to what’s most important to you, even when fear or sadness try to derail you.
-
ERP is a highly effective, evidence-based treatment for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Together, we’ll use the ERP framework to create small, manageable exercises that help you face the fears or urges that keep you caught in time-wasting behaviors and rituals. Instead of giving in to compulsive checking or avoidance, you’ll practice new ways of responding with my guidance and support. Over time, this breaks the cycle of anxiety so you can spend less energy on rituals and more time living the life you want.
Real change happens when you stop waiting to feel ready and just begin.
My Background
-
Beyond my professional role as a psychologist, spending quality time with my wife and son remains a central priority for me. Originally from Los Angeles, I also spent several formative years in São Paulo, Brazil, where I specialized in supporting international expats—including corporate executives, diplomats, and their families—as they navigated the challenges of adjusting to daily life in a foreign country. These experiences deepened my appreciation for the ways people adapt and grow through adversity. Today, the flexibility of virtual therapy enables me to maintain a presence in both California and São Paulo, where my wife is from, enabling us to remain actively involved in the lives of both of our families.
-
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Sociology from UCLA
Master of Arts (M.A.) in Psychology from Pepperdine University
Doctorate of Psychology (PsyD) in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University
Licensed Psychologist in California since 2001
Licensed Psychologist in New York
Registered Telehealth Provider in Florida
-
Academy of Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies (A-CBT) - Certified Diplomate
Feeling Good Institute - TEAM-CBT - Level 3 Certified
-
American Psychological Association - Member
A-CBT - Member
It feels good to know where you’re headed.