About Me!

I am Risa: person first, patient last. I have a wonderful husband and we have a spitfire 15 year old, who makes us laugh constantly and astounds us with their gift for art. I am a social worker who primarily worked with children and families and, unfortunately, became very ill in 2013, which continued to 2017. Treatment resistant depression is no joke and I endured numerous medication trials and many different treatments, luckily with the best of the best in the world. Since I was unable to return to full-time professional work, I worked part-time at Brighton, where I learned so much and became part of one of the best work families I have ever had. The pandemic interrupted that and I have just been focusing on my treatment for my chronic bipolar disorder, seeing my therapist 5 days/week and meeting with my psychiatrist monthly. I never planned to be on disability (although I thank god for it every single day) and I always thought I’d work full-time in a professional role, but we can’t plan out our lives. Bipolar certainly complicates my life but I am blessed with my husband and my 15 year old-my heart. My late father was so supportive and my mom is there as well as my brothers, their spouses and my accomplished niece and nephew. Blessed to have friends from growing up, overnight camp, college and beyond, I am never alone in life. I am Risa and I will always be a person first, patient last. So happy to be part of my posh family!