Daily Inspiration: Meet Alessandra Rizzotti

Today we’d like to introduce you to Alessandra Rizzotti.

Hi Alessandra, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I am currently an OCD Therapist at NOCD, the leading treatment online for OCD. I have been awarded as a Lifechanger for two years, supporting over 100 brave people in finding a new way to live with a disorder that is often taboo and left untreated. Prior to that, I worked at UCLA BHA working with neurodivergent children and adults and LA DMH where I worked with houseless folks with schizophrenia and complex trauma.

The journey has been a winding one. I’ve always cared about mental health due to my own lived experience. In 2009 I was working in entertainment as a video librarian for Access Hollywood – before ChatGPT existed. I had taken a day off to hike and suffered a severe accident in which I fell off a cliff and almost died. The accident changed my perspective and health long term. I took a year to recover and ended up eventually working as a post assistant for a reality show and a pitch deck designer for a well known writer, and eventually as a post assistant at Family Guy. While the work was special and got me back on my feet, I realized the way I wanted to make meaning in my life was to help others like me. I found myself having chronic illnesses after that trauma and realizing how hard it was to access services that were catered to my needs.

I didn’t know what I wanted to do to shift my life, but I knew I wanted it to have purpose and meaning, so I started writing and associate editing at GOOD Magazine, which eventually led me to writing communications for The Trevor Project, the leading lifeline for LGBTQIA youth. That was my in to volunteering as a lifeline counselor. During that time, my father died and it was a moment that made me realize it’s time to pursue my passion in mental health.

While I took 10 yrs to finally go from a minor in social work and a film degree from USC to saving money to go to grad school and get my masters at CSUN, it was the most rewarding thing I did. Going back to school as an 30 yr old was challenging. Although life happening finally pushed me to make a change to what I was more passionate about, I now live a life that is more geared towards my values.

My undiagnosed OCD has left me with many years of perfectionism and doubt and once I made a choice to lead a life through what I cared about and what my heart told me, things started falling into place.

I now work with people like me and help them guide their treatment with their values. If they don’t know their values, we discover them together and find ways to rewrite their narrative.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Smooth roads often don’t lead to much meaning, for me at least. Life is hard and full of bumps along the way. We have to ebb and flow with the ups and downs of what comes up. Living with two chronic illnesses and OCD has taught me that embracing uncertainty has helped me accept challenges and tolerate hard things.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a licensed clinical social worker who specializes as a therapist for PTSD, complex trauma, OCD, and BDD. I’m most proud of my members who have changed their lives by learning to tolerate distress with willingness. As a result, I’ve supported people who have gone back to school despite fearing not being good enough, move homes despite fearing distance and germs, tolerate multiple challenging pregnancies despite the fear of death/hurting their babies, people who have become doctors despite fears of harming others, and I’ve helped artists who have embraced imperfection and have learned to start creating again. What sets me apart from others is I tend to work with neurodivergent folks who have chronic illnesses, often artists and LGBTQIA+ folx. I also accept insurance which is often rare in Los Angeles. My lived experience helps me support the most vulnerable populations. I am certified in CBT, EMDR, and highly trained in ERP and PE as well as DBT. These modalities are super helpful in supporting neurodivergent folks and I customize them to meet the needs of my clients.

What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
I have a dark sense of humor and I’m creative, which allows me to be super helpful in creating ERP that is tailored to members I work with. I am collaborative, I try to support members in finding their why and what will guide them towards acceptance of their challenges, which is what pushes them towards change.

Pricing:

• 275 sliding scale for individual sessions, this varies with insurance
• 89-150 with insurance depending on the plan

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.balancedbehaviortherapy.org
• Instagram: balancedbehaviortherapy
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alessandrarizzotti?utm_source=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=member_ios
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/live/AVOWPzuHqFU?si=X7SYLk6BFGd85pe4
• Other: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/alessandra-rizzotti-nocd-phoenix-az/1340107?fbclid=PAVERFWAUB9dVwZG9mAmZkaWQWUNgFcbycq4aTkiB2PrluOEArMihGemV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDzEyNDAyNDU3NDI4NzQxNAABp6ZTt_wT4-gjdF5aV7k12Pz_AePgmznYl0brCoL2nW6Gxl758yTFxpQQ_pCy_aem_sa5kQeJ2OeERH_LAsC1PQg