Dr. Ricardo Gillispie, PhD, LCSW - Therapist in Mississippi

Emotionally-Focused Therapy
Attachment-based work
Cognitive behavioral techniques

About Ricardo

Dr. Ricardo Gillispie, PhD, LCSW is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Mississippi with 51 years of experience. He works with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship and intimacy concerns, addictions, trauma and abuse, grief, parenting challenges, ADHD, and related issues. He also addresses topics such as self-esteem, sleep problems, career strain, compassion fatigue, and coping with life changes.

He trained in social work and earned a PhD with a focus on psychotherapeutic social work. Over a long career he ran a private practice and helped lead a group behavioral health practice that included psychiatrists, psychologists, counselors, and nurse practitioners. He has also worked in inpatient and outpatient geriatric behavioral health programs and developed behavioral health services for correctional settings.

His approach draws on Emotionally-Focused Therapy along with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Attachment-Based Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Sessions emphasize examining emotions, patterns in relationships, and practical skills to manage symptoms. He aims to help people name difficult feelings, see recurring patterns, and try new ways of responding.

As a former program developer and consultant, he brings experience in designing services and training other clinicians. That background informs a straightforward style that blends discussion, skills practice, and attention to how relationships and attachment shape problems.

People who want a clinician with long experience in clinical social work and program development often seek him out. Prospective clients are encouraged to complete the brief matching questionnaire and schedule an initial session to discuss goals and fit.

Therapeutic approaches and online sessions

Emotionally-Focused Therapy focuses on emotions and how they shape relationship patterns. It helps people name feelings, understand emotional responses, and change repetitive interaction styles. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) works on noticing thoughts and feelings while taking steps that match personal values; it is often used for anxiety, depression, and coping with life changes.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to decide which methods fit their goals and situation. That decision is revisited as progress is made and as needs change.

The biography does not specify which online session types are offered, so confirm available formats before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life, reduce travel time, allow shorter check-ins when schedules demand, and let people meet with licensed professionals from different locations. Discuss format preferences during the first session to find the most useful arrangement.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesSelf esteem Depression Coping with life changes

Also works with

AddictionsLGBTFamily conflictsTrauma and abuse Grief Intimacy-related issuesSleeping disordersParenting issuesAnger managementCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCoachingCompassion fatigueADHD

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAdoption and foster careAging and geriatric issuesAntisocial personalityAttachment issuesAvoidant personalityBlended family issuesCo-morbidityCodependency Communication problemsCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDependent personalityDisruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)Divorce and separation Domestic violenceEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFatherhood issuesForgivenessGender dysphoriaGuilt and shameImpulsivityInfidelity Isolation / loneliness Jealousy Life purpose Men's issues Midlife crisis Mood disordersMulticultural concernsObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPanic disorder and panic attacksParanoiaPhobiasPostpartum depression Post-traumatic stressPrejudice and discriminationSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-harmSelf-loveSexual assault and abuseSexualitySocial anxiety and phobiaSomatizationWomen's issues

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Attachment-Based Therapy Client-Centered Therapy Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)Existential Therapy Jungian Therapy Mindfulness Therapy Motivational Interviewing Narrative Therapy Psychodynamic Therapy Solution-Focused Therapy Trauma-Focused Therapy

Experience

51+ years

Listed in

Mississippi

Languages

English

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does he support?

He works with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship and intimacy issues, addictions, trauma and abuse, grief, parenting, ADHD, and related concerns.

What therapeutic approaches does he use?

His work draws on Emotionally-Focused Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Attachment-Based Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.

How much clinical experience does he have?

He has 51 years of clinical experience in social work, including private practice, program development, and consulting roles.

What are his credentials and location?

He holds a PhD and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) based in Mississippi.

Which languages and international clients are supported?

Sessions are offered in English and he accepts international clients.

What session formats are available?

The original biography does not list session formats. Confirm current session options before booking.

How does pricing work?

Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.

How do I get started?

Select the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.

Profile details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. Credential and registration rules differ between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.