About Dr. Richard "Rick" Costa
My Approach to Therapy:
You are the ultimate expert on your own life. As your therapist, my role is to serve as a facilitator in your healing process, helping you uncover tailored solutions to navigate life’s unique challenges. I use an insight-oriented, interpersonal approach designed to empower you, providing a compassionate and collaborative space where you can achieve your optimal level of functioning. Because every individual is unique, I blend multiple evidence-based therapeutic techniques to fit your specific needs. These include Interpersonal/Psychodynamic Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), solution-focused strategies, family systems, and child-parent psychotherapy approaches. Over my career, I have developed extensive experience providing dedicated therapy, assessment, consultation, and outreach services to children, adolescents, and adults alike.
Academic Appointments & Training:
Beyond my clinical practice, I am deeply committed to education, research, and the advancement of mental healthcare. I serve as a Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the LSUHSC Department of Psychiatry, where I teach and supervise predoctoral psychology interns, postdoctoral fellows, psychiatry residents, and medical students.
My academic background includes extensive training and research across a broad range of vital mental health domains. I am a psychoanalytic fellow at the New Orleans-Birmingham Psychoanalytic Center and an affiliate of the National Child Traumatic Stress Network. Additionally, I frequently lecture and have co-authored scholarly research on complex trauma, PTSD, Posttraumatic Growth, anxiety, depression, ADHD, and the psychological impacts of natural disasters.
Credentials & Specializations:
Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (Psy.D.) – Georgia School of Professional Psychology Post-Graduate Master of Science (M.S.) in Clinical Psychopharmacology – Alliant International University Licensed Psychologist – Certified to practice in Louisiana, Georgia, Minnesota, and Utah Advanced Practice Medical Psychologist – Licensed in Louisiana Florida Telehealth Provider – Approved to offer virtual counseling sessions to Florida residents Infant Mental Health Specialist – Certified through the prestigious Irving Harris Infant Mental Health Fellowship at LSUHSC
