Empowering identities, Dismantling norms
Queer Psychology with a punk attitude
Empowering identities, Dismantling norms
Queer Psychology with a punk attitude
About The Punk Psychologist
My Background
I am Dr. Dylan Richard (they/them; pronounced REE-shard) and I am a queer, kinky, nonbinary, polyamorous, neurodivergent licensed psychologist in Mississippi! I am also approved to practice virtually via PSYPACT (APIT #20535) which allows me to see clients in 42 states including: AL, AZ, AR, CO, CN, MI, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, ME, MD, MI, MN, MS, MO, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NC, ND, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WV, WI, and WY. For a map of these states and updates please visit: https://psypact.gov/mpage/psypactmap
I have a PhD in Counseling Psychology, completed my predoctoral internship in trauma/general mental health (At the Phoenix VA), and supervised postdoctoral experience in PTSD and Military Sexual Trauma. Additionally, I am Geek Therapy Certified through Geek Therapy.
Here's some fun things about me:
- I was born and raised in Louisiana, attended Grad school in Mississippi, moved to Phoenix, AZ, and then now I'm back in Mississippi.
- I'm sure some of you may want to cancel me over some of these, but some of my favorite musicians are: My Chemical Romance, The Used, Dog Park Dissidents, I Fight Dragons, Lady Gaga, Yungblud, Ryan Cassata, Pat the Bunny, Laura Jane Grace, Billy Talent, and Ghost.
- Some of my fav things to geek out about are: The Legend of Zelda (my favorite games are Majora's Mask, Twilight Princess, and Minish Cap in that order), Minecraft, Existential and Moral Philosophy, Diogenes, and Sex (yes, I see myself as a Sex Nerd)
- I love taking care of my hoard of houseplants, some of my favorite plants are pothos (I know they are basic, but I love how they grow), monstera, and begonias.
What is a “Punk Psychologist”?
For me, being a Punk Psychologist is about taking the counter-culture values, aesthetic, and attitude of Punk Rock and applying it directly to the practice of Psychology. My approach starts with a philosophy that speaks to the misfits, the rebels, and the passionate advocates and grounds me in a set of values that push me for constant personal and professional growth.
My Values as a Punk Psychologist
- Individual Liberty: Individual autonomy should be not only respected, but celebrated. I keep this in mind in all aspects of my work, especially in my clinical care/trainings and research.
- Anti-Authoritarianism: While there's certain authoritarian bodies we must all obey (government, state licensing boards), I believe that authorities should be challenged, or else the status quo continues to oppress those of us from marginalized groups.
- Authenticity over conformity: I pride myself on the fact that I don't look like the stereotypical image of a psychologist and I strive to challenge the "norms" as often as possible, when needed.
- Direct Action: "You don't throw flowers at a broken window to repair it", meaning that we have to take direct action to see actual, meaningful change. Silence and being a bystander leads to stagnation.
- Do-It-Yourself (DIY): I am no stranger to paving my own path, I've done it throughout majority of my career so far.
- Collectivism: What happens when someone falls down in the middle of a mosh? You stop, help them up, and make sure they are good! We aren't meant to operate in this world alone, despite what capitalist systems have us believe. I value community-driven, action-oriented research, intervention, and advocacy, because we don't exist in a vacuum.
My Current Work
Therapeutic Services:
As of 5/1/25, I have a waitlist for services with me and therefore I will not be taking on any new clients. I will update here when I am able to take on new client referrals.
I have my own private practice, The Punk Psychologist, LLC. If interested in working with me, feel free to check out the "Prospective Clients" link at the bottom of this page, which will take you to my practice page, where you can book a FREE consultation appointment with me online! As long as you are located in one of the states listed above, I can see you!
Specialty Areas:
- Trauma and PTSD (experience with combat, sexual, and complex trauma)
- Personality Disorders (such as Borderline Personality Disorder and Narcissistic Personality Disorder)
- Sexuality and Sexual Concerns (including exploring sexuality, paraphilias, compulsive sexual behaviors, and sexual dysfunction)
- Queer and Trans affirming therapy
- ADHD
- Work with kink/BDSM relationships, polyamory, non-monogamy, sex work, etc.
Theoretical Approach:
I mostly work from an eclectic and humanistic approach, which emphasizes the therapeutic relationship and “using the right tool for the job” in regards to specific therapy tools. I have traditional/specific training and I'm comfortable using the following approaches/tools:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Cognitive Processing Therapy for PTSD (CPT)
- Prolonged Exposure for PTSD (PE)
- Exposure and Written Exposure Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Sex Therapy (CBST)
- Person-centered and Humanistic therapy approaches
- Motivational Interviewing (MI)
- Solution-focused therapy
- Strength at Home (SAH)
- Feminist Therapy
- Multicultural and Social Justice Counseling
Therapy Fees:
I currently do not take insurance for a multitude of reasons. I choose to operate from a model that balances my desire to provide accessible mental health services, with my need for financial stability. Therefore, I set up my fee structure in a way that ensures that I can keep offering my services, while also making sure that I can pay my bills.
My ongoing rate is $150/60 minute individual session. Relational therapy would be an extra $50 per hour, per extra person in the room (so a couple would be $200/hour, throuple $250/hour).
Ways to make therapy more affordable:
- I offer many "Pay What You Can" therapy slots, which can range from $80-$150/per hour. These slots (majority of my caseload), allow clients to set the fee that works best for their finances.
- I offer Superbills, which can be submitted to your insurance policy for Out of Network reimbursement directly to you. You will need to check with your specific insurance company and plan regarding these details, coverage, and how to submit. I do not make any guarantees about reimbursement.
- Coming soon, I hope to also expand my offerings to group therapy, which can often be much more affordable.
Teaching/Supervision
I have served in academic/training roles in the past, including at the Phoenix VA, Arizona State University, and University of Southern Mississippi. This included providing didactics for predoctoral psychology interns, teaching undergraduate and graduate courses, and supervising Master and PhD Counseling Psychology students in their internships/practicum experiences. I've taught courses related to general psychology, psychology of gender, human sexuality (this one earned me the spot on the Professor Watchlist), psychological disorders, trauma, substance use/addiction recovery, counseling 2SLGBTQIA+ clients, multicultural counseling, and counseling theories.
I absolutely love teaching and am always happy to discuss providing CEs, didactics, or consultation based on the areas of my specialty.
Research
While I am not a researcher, I am happy to consult on research projects if someone with my specialty areas is needed in the process. I'm of the opinion that, the best clinical research includes actual clinical expertise.
Consulting
I am always happy to discuss consulting opportunities, especially those related to my above areas of interest and experience. Consulting can include discussion of challenging cases, program evaluation, process improvement, or offering CEUs or other trainings/psychoeducation. Feel free to reach out via email so we can set up an initial meeting. My fee schedule is $150 for individuals (my therapy rate) and $250 for corporations/large group practices. My rate for Non-Profits are negotiable, depending on size and overall mission.
Community Engagement
I believe, given the work that I do, that community involvement is vital to not only support the communities I am part of, but also to ensure that I am connected to the actual problems that my communities are facing. Historically, I have been involved both professionally and personally with many different projects. Currently, I am a member of the Phoenix boys of Leather, who exist to serve, support, and enrich the leather community, regardless of gender, sexuality, or appearance/ability. In addition to our personal work and connections, we also annually raise money for a local organization that serves folks from our communities. I also, serve as an APAGS LGBTQIA+ Mentor for psychology students looking for a Queer mentor as they continue in their programs. I have worked hard to make several professional connections within my local community as well. I am passionate about getting involved to help improve various aspects of our community, not only psychological, and I value guiding students to do the same.
My Continued Education
As a life-long learner, I am always engaging in continued education (in addition to the CE's required to maintain my license).
I am currently enrolled in an intensive training program that will result in certification as a Sex Coach and Sexologist. I am excited to begin this journey and can't wait to expand my current knowledge base and to offer a new perspective to my work. I do plan on offering Sex Coaching and consultations following certification.