Therapist Dr. Natalia Rivera Photo

Dr. Natalia Rivera, LCSW

Stress, Anxiety Trauma, Abuse Anger management Self esteem, Motivation Depression
Video Phone Live Chat Messaging

About me

I am a licensed clinical social worker licensed in North Carolina and Georgia with over 12 years of experience working as an active duty Army Officer in Military Treatment Facilities and community partners. In my 22 years as an active duty Army Soldier, I have worked with clients of different ages with a wide range of concerns including depression, anxiety, relationship issues, parenting problems, self-harm, conduct disorder or oppositional defiant disorder, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. In the U.S. Army my specialty was combat and military sexual trauma-related Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Combat Operational Stress. I currently provide counseling services for individuals over 18 years of age, but I also provide behavior modification or Applied Behavioral Analysis therapy for children under 18 who are diagnosed with a neurological condition.

My counseling style is warm, humorous, and interactive. I am empathetic and nonjudgmental, and I strive to create a therapeutic environment rooted in acceptance, openness, and unconditional positive regard. However, I am also realistic and honest, and I will always tell you the truth, but in a kind and supportive way. My approach combines cognitive-behavioral, humanistic or client-centered, reality and rational-emotive counseling. I will work collaboratively with you to create a treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs and together we will track your progress and revise the treatment plan when necessary.

In our journey together, you will be the driver and I will be the passenger reading your map. Sometimes we may take a wrong turn and that is OK, but together we will use your map to get back on the track to the destination of your choice.

My regular schedule is:
Monday - Friday: 5:00 pm - 9:00 PM (EST)
Saturday & Sun: Out of the office (Appointments may be considered on a case-by-case basis)

I typically check my messages after 5 PM every day (sometimes more) and try to respond within 24 hours of your message, but this is not always possible, but I will do my best to give a timely response.

Please note: Periodically my schedule may change. I try to be as flexible as I can when there are specific appointment requests, and we can always discuss other convenient times when I may be able to open up a one-time slot on another day.

MY CANCELLATION POLICY
Just a quick message to inform you about my cancellation policy. Your appointments and well-being are very important to me, and I understand that sometimes, unexpected delays can occur, making schedule adjustments. If you need to cancel your appointment, I respectfully request at least three days’ notice. Appointments are in high demand, and your advanced notice will allow another client access to that appointment time.
Please note: It is Betterhelp’s cancellation policy that you cancel at least 24 hours before the appointment.

I look forward to working with you!

V/R
Dr. Natalia R. Rivera, DSW, LCSW, CADC

Professional experience

13yrs in practice
Stress, Anxiety Trauma, Abuse Anger management Self esteem, Motivation Depression

Additional areas of focus: Grief, Sleeping disorders, Parenting issues, Coping with life changes, Adoption and foster care, Communication problems, Control issues, Coping with natural or human-caused disaster, Domestic violence, Drug and alcohol addiction, Emptiness, First responder issues, Guilt and shame, Impulsivity, Isolation / loneliness, Life purpose, Midlife crisis, Veteran and Armed Forces Issues, Multicultural concerns, Panic disorder and panic attacks, Post-traumatic stress, Sexual assault and abuse, Social anxiety and phobia, Women's issues, Young adult issues

Clinical approaches: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Motivational Interviewing, Solution-Focused Therapy, Trauma-Focused Therapy, Internal Family Systems

Services offered

Video
Phone
Live Chat
Messaging

License information

GA LCSW CSW006608

NC LCSW C009986

Reviews

These quotes represent just a few of the many positive reviews that we have received for Dr. Natalia Rivera. We don't pay anyone to provide their review and they are all made voluntarily. Some people's experience receiving therapy with BetterHelp might be different.

Dr. Rivera is hands down the best therapist I have had! I have been in therapy off and on since I was 12, and each time I am blessed to find therapists who are better for me at this point in my life. I have been working with Dr. Rivera for the past 3 - 4 years. Dr. Rivera makes the art of counseling seamless. She has a wonderful way of not only showing understanding and care towards my situations, but also promptly providing accountability. Dr. Rivera has made various suggestions to my treatment outside of therapy as well. Once I brought these suggestions to my psych provider, my life has changed for the better! Overall, I am blessed to have a holistic provider like Dr. Rivera in my corner. With both her guidance and the work I have put in, I have been able to successfully navigate graduate school, multiple family deaths, breaking of an engagement, my spiritual journey, my professional journey, and my overall journey as a human-being in this world. Thank you Dr. Rivera for taking me on as a client at a time I needed you the most. You are seriously one of a kind and a blessing to every client you work with!

Written on Mar 28, 2024 after therapy with Natalia for 3 years on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, grief, and self esteem

Dr. Rivera is simply AMAZING, I’m so grateful for her

Written on Mar 13, 2023 after therapy with Natalia for 1 year and 1 month on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, and parenting issues

Dr. Natalia has a real-world view of the problems we face in today's society. She is very capable of seeing different sides of the same problem and bringing people together to focus on solutions. I particularly enjoy the lack of psychological jargon, slogans, and off-the-shelf solutions. She is creative in her examples and brilliantly infuses humor when broaching challenging subjects. Dr. Natalia's life experience coupled with her genuine desire to help people makes her an ideal mental health professional for most of us. She is however not for everyone! If you are not genuinely seeking growth, change, or improvement and are ready to do the work towards agreed-upon goals, she will recommend another professional for your journey.

Written on Sep 22, 2022 after therapy with Natalia for 2 weeks on issues concerning family conflicts

You're the best therapist I've ever had. And I appreciate all you have helped me through! Very much made a mark in my life

Written on Aug 13, 2022 after therapy with Natalia for 1 year and 3 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, sleeping disorders, self esteem, anger management, compassion fatigue, and adhd

She do an amazing job! She knows what She is doing!

Written on Aug 01, 2022 after therapy with Natalia for 2 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, sleeping disorders, self esteem, compassion fatigue, and adhd

Natalia is just was I was looking for in a therapist. She listens, gives sound advice, and helps you create a structured plan for yourself. I would definitely recommend her to my loved ones.

Written on May 27, 2022 after therapy with Natalia for 3 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, addictions, relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, intimacy-related issues, self esteem, and coping with life changes