About Nelson
Nelson Rivera is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker with two decades of experience in behavioral health. He offers straightforward, warm guidance for people facing addiction, trauma, mood struggles, relationship challenges, and other life stresses. Sessions are offered in English and Spanish and Nelson accepts international clients.
He focuses on how thoughts shape actions and uses that idea to help people change patterns that cause harm or keep them stuck.
Background and approach
He combines practical tools from cognitive behavioral approaches with motivational interviewing to address ambivalence and build momentum for change. Trauma-focused work is also part of his practice when past events keep affecting present life. Nelson has a background working with HIV/AIDS, substance use, and chronic medical concerns.
That experience informs his work with grief, caregiver stress, and process addictions like gambling or problematic porn use. He also supports people coping with prejudice, shame, and issues tied to identity and intimacy. His style is adaptive and nonjudgmental.
He avoids labels and shapes conversations to match each person’s situation and goals. Typical sessions include goal setting, skill practice, and direct conversation about barriers to change. Nelson earned his master’s degree from New York University and is a PhD candidate in organizational psychology.
His licenses are DC LICSW LC200002823 and FL LCSW SW11119. He brings practical experience and clear, compassionate direction to the work.
Evidence-based approaches for online care
Nelson uses cognitive behavioral techniques to help people notice unhelpful thoughts and develop new ways of acting. CBT often includes clear goals, practical exercises, and skills to manage mood and anxiety in daily life.He also draws on motivational interviewing to address mixed feelings about change. This approach uses respectful conversation to strengthen a person’s motivation and decide on steps they actually want to take.
Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Nelson will talk with each person about their goals, preferences, and what has or hasn't worked before. Together they decide which methods to try and adjust the plan as progress is made.
Online sessions are offered by video call, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to fit different routines. Video works well for in-depth sessions and skill practice, phone calls can be easier when bandwidth is limited, and messaging or chat allow shorter check-ins or ongoing support between sessions. These options aim to make therapy more flexible and easier to fit into work, caregiving, or travel schedules.
Frequently asked questions
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Specialties and expertise
Top specialties
Also works with
- Anger management
- Bipolar disorder
- Career difficulties
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Coaching
- Communication problems
- Compassion fatigue
- Coping with life changes
- Depression
- Drug and alcohol addiction
- Family conflicts
- Forgiveness
- Grief
- Guilt and shame
- HIV / AIDS
- Impulsivity
- Infidelity
- Intimacy-related issues
- Isolation / loneliness
- Life purpose
- Men's issues
- Mood disorders
- Prejudice and discrimination
- Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)
- Relationship issues
- Self esteem
- Self-harm
- Self-love
- Sex addiction
- Sexuality
- Stress, Anxiety
- Workplace issues
- Young adult issues
Therapeutic approaches
- Experience
- 20 years
- Licensed
- Florida, District of Columbia, Maryland
- Languages
- English, Spanish