As the Rivia Mind team continues to grow, we love to learn all about the individual journeys our clinicians have been on that eventually brought them to us. Each of our skilled and compassionate clinicians comes from a unique background and approaches their work in a different way. That’s certainly true for James “Jim” Riter, LCSW, one of our new therapists. Recently, we spoke with Jim about his career in mental health and how he came to Rivia Mind. Here’s what he had to say:
Education and Background
The beginning of Jim’s interest in mental health was, as is the case with many others in the field, based on his own experiences receiving therapy as an adolescent. However, he originally planned to become a music teacher and attended Ithaca College with a major in music. Then an experience working as a music teacher at a summer camp changed the course of his life and career.
“I had a young camper who threatened suicide and climbed to the top of a building stating he would jump,” he explains. “I was on-site and had to talk him off of the roof, which he was able to do safely. I started thinking ‘Do kids really need someone to teach them to play the trumpet, or to help them learn how to cope with stressful things in life?’ I returned to college after that summer and changed my major to psychology.”
After college, Jim worked at a cognitive psychology program at Syracuse University, as well as working as a counselor in an inpatient psychiatric unit and CPEP unit. Later, he worked as an outpatient chemical dependency counselor full-time as he completed his MSW at Syracuse University.
“I spent most of my career working as a social worker and social work supervisor at an OMH psychiatric center. During this time, I saw the impact of trauma on both patients and staff, and also the powerful impact of the recovery model, that people can and do build lives worth living, even when treated for chronic mental health conditions. This led me to seek additional training in person-centered planning, DBT, ACT, cognitive processing therapy for trauma, and motivational interviewing.”
Specialty and Approach to Therapy
Jim focuses on the treatment of chronic mental health conditions, trauma, co-occurring disorders, and helping people with behavioral change. “ Over my career, I chose to focus treatment on mood disorders, anxiety, psychosis, co-occurring addiction, and trauma because I witnessed the impact of these conditions on both the patients and the other staff,” he says. “I eventually centered on social work instead of psychology, because I saw the impact of social, economic, and cultural factors on the emergence of mental health symptoms and saw this as a well-rounded approach.”
He describes his approach to therapy as “eclectic,” based on an understanding of systems theory and biopsychosocial development. “I then use the spirit of Motivational Interviewing (Partnership, Acceptance, Compassion, and Empowerment) as the foundation of my client interactions. This helps build a therapeutic relationship and often minimizes discord in the relationship. Then I add socratic questioning to help develop insight, and skills pulled from traditional CBT, ACT, and DBT to help people manage symptoms. I am also influenced by the recovery movement, that people can and do build lives worth living when given the right support and skills.”
When working with behavioral change, he almost always uses Motivational Interviewing. “MI is a conversation style that has been shown to maximize patient engagement in treatment, reduce discord, and help people change unhelpful behaviors that they have been ambivalent about changing. It builds on a person’s internal motivation and helps them plan to make successful changes.”
Joining Rivia Mind
Jim joined Rivia Mind in May. Since becoming part of our team, he says, “I have really enjoyed the company culture. It is so refreshing to work with others who are focused on both patient and staff well-being and growth. I think this is vitally important for mental health clinicians.” We’re lucky to have Jim as one of our clinicians.
Advice For New Patients
Seeking out mental health support for the first time can be intimidating. Jim encourages new patients to go at their own pace and not be afraid to change providers when your needs change and ask questions always. “Remain hopeful…Mental health treatment can take some time in order to feel better. Also, remember that prioritizing your mental wellness, by taking care of your mind and body and practicing skills, such as mindfulness daily.”
When it comes to seeking a mental health provider, he says, “I encourage people to first consider their needs, then seek out several providers, if possible, and get a sense of how they feel with each provider and about the types of treatment offered. I use the analogy of shopping for clothes or shoes. Just because something appears to be the right size, it doesn;t mean that it will fit well or work with your outfit. Shop around until you have a good fit.”
Self-Care For the Clinician
Self-care is important for everyone, and clinicians need it just as much as patients. So what does self-care look like for Jim Riter when the day is done?
“I love this question. I basically try to immerse myself in activities that bring joy, interest, and adventure, reminding me that life is definitely worth living. I listen to music throughout the day, play ball in the backyard with my 3-year-old Goldendoodle, cook new recipes, travel as much as I can, and learn about the history of our world. I am also working on becoming more physically active, and am researching purchasing a bike to allow me to get daily exercise while exploring areas near my home and throughout New York State.”
If you’re searching for a clinician who’s right for you on your mental health journey, Rivia Mind has you covered. Whether it’s Jim Riter or one of our other skilled and compassionate clinicians, we’re here for you and ready to help. Contact us today to learn more or to find a provider.
