Therapy Group of DC
Dr. Paul Rizzo, Psy.D.
Anxiety, purpose & making sense of where you are right now
About Dr. Rizzo
If you’re going through a period where things feel uncertain — maybe your career doesn’t feel like it fits anymore, a relationship has shifted, or you’re just stuck in a cycle of anxiety and restlessness that you can’t quite explain — I work with people in exactly that space. My goal is to help you develop a stronger sense of confidence and agency as we figure out what’s actually going on underneath.
I became a psychologist because I believe people deserve more than quick fixes. I wanted to do work that prioritizes real understanding — of your experiences, your relationships, and the way you see yourself in the world. That kind of understanding is where deep, lasting change comes from. Not from a worksheet or a coping strategy, but from genuinely knowing yourself better.
“I don’t think therapy should feel like an assignment. It should feel like a conversation where you can finally be honest about where you are — and start figuring out where you actually want to go.”
Paul Rizzo, Psy.D., Therapist DC
My Approach
I draw on existential, humanistic, and person-centered approaches — which, in plain terms, means I’m more interested in who you are and what matters to you than in diagnosing what’s “wrong” with you. I believe that most of the struggles people bring to therapy — anxiety, depression, feeling directionless — are connected to bigger questions about purpose, identity, and how you relate to the people around you.
In our sessions, I lean toward exploration over structure. I’ll ask questions that help you see the patterns that have shaped how you think about yourself and what you’re capable of. I’m supportive without being passive — I’ll gently push when it’s useful, but I’m not going to tell you what to do. My job is to help you trust your own judgment more, not replace it with mine.
Interested in working with Dr. Rizzo?
Take the first step — we’ll help you get started.
Before joining Therapy Group of DC, I spent years working in college counseling — helping young adults navigate identity questions, academic pressure, career uncertainty, and substance use. That work gave me a deep appreciation for how much our sense of self shifts during transitions, whether that’s your first job out of school or a midlife reckoning with what you thought your life would look like by now. I also trained at the Carl Rogers Institute, where I was steeped in the humanistic tradition of treating every person as the expert on their own life. That training shaped everything about how I work today.
I have particular experience with men who aren’t used to talking about what they’re going through — and with people navigating substance use concerns without shame or judgment. If you’re someone who’s been putting off therapy because you’re not sure it’s “bad enough,” or because you’ve never felt comfortable opening up, I hear that a lot. You don’t need a crisis to start this work. You just need to be willing to be curious about yourself.
Educational Background
Common Questions
The first session is really about getting to know each other. I’ll ask about what brought you to therapy and what’s been going on — but I’m also interested in the bigger picture: your relationships, your work, how you see yourself. We’ll talk about what you’re hoping to get out of this, and I’ll share a bit about how I work so you can decide if it feels like a good fit. There’s no pressure to dive into anything heavy right away. The goal is for you to leave feeling like you were actually heard.
It’s less abstract than it sounds. Existential therapy is really about exploring the questions that are already running in the background of your life — things like “Am I doing the right thing with my career?” or “Why do I feel so disconnected?” or “What do I actually want?” Instead of focusing on symptoms in isolation, we look at what those symptoms are trying to tell you about your life as a whole. It’s a collaborative, conversational process — not lectures about philosophy.
Absolutely. A lot of the people I work with are coming to therapy for the first time — and often they’ve been thinking about it for a while before reaching out. There’s no wrong way to start. I’ll meet you where you are, and we’ll go at a pace that feels comfortable. You don’t need to have a specific diagnosis or a dramatic backstory. Wanting to understand yourself better is more than enough.
Yes. I have extensive experience working with people navigating substance use — from people who are questioning their relationship with alcohol or marijuana to those dealing with more significant concerns. My approach is nonjudgmental and rooted in understanding what role substances play in your life, not in lecturing you about what you should or shouldn’t be doing. We’ll figure out what changes, if any, feel right for you.
Yes — I see clients both in-person at the Dupont Circle office and via secure telehealth throughout Washington, DC. Many of my clients appreciate the flexibility of switching between the two depending on their schedule.
Ready — or still deciding?
Either way, we’ll make it easy. Get started with Dr. Rizzo directly, or tell us what you’re looking for and we’ll help you find the right fit. Takes a few minutes — no commitment.
Transparent Pricing & Insurance Support
Life in DC can be complicated. Insurance paperwork shouldn’t be. We handle the paperwork to make reimbursement simple.