Hey, I’m Dylan Richard, PhD (they/them), a licensed psychologist, Board Certified Sexologist, educator, and the human behind The Punk Psychologist. Though sometimes I feel more like 3 raccoons in a trench coat.
I built my career around working with people whose lives, identities, relationships, and experiences don’t always fit neatly into the boxes psychology has historically created for them. My work sits at the intersection of trauma, sexuality, neurodivergence, queer and trans experiences, and relationship diversity. My practice is grounded in evidence-based psychology without losing sight of the actual human sitting in front of me.
The Punk Psychologist grew out of a pretty simple belief: psychology should help people understand themselves and build lives that actually work for them, not teach them how to become more socially acceptable versions of themselves.
My path here has taken me through a lot of different corners of psychology. I earned my PhD in Counseling Psychology from The University of Southern Mississippi (APA-accredited) and completed my predoctoral internship with the Phoenix VA, where much of my training focused on trauma and evidence-based treatment for PTSD, working with queer and trans Veterans, and diagnostic assessment.
Since then, I’ve worked as a trauma psychologist, coordinated services for survivors of military sexual trauma, taught psychology at the undergraduate and graduate levels, supervised trainees across all training levels, trained and supported other psychologists, and developed deeper specialties in human sexuality and neurodivergence.
Somewhere along the way, all of those pieces started fitting together. Trauma doesn’t exist separately from sexuality. Sexuality doesn’t exist separately from identity. Neurodivergence affects how we experience all of it. And none of us exist separately from the cultures, relationships, systems, and communities around us.
The Punk Psychologist, LLC is what happened when I stopped trying to separate those pieces.
The “punk” in The Punk Psychologist isn't just about the tattoos, music, or aesthetics, although these are part of the fun, there's actually a deeper philosophy behind it.
To me, punk psychology means bringing the values that drew me to punk and counterculture into how I think about psychology: question authority, challenge assumptions, value authenticity, respect autonomy, and don't accept “that's just how we've always done it” as a particularly compelling argument.
That doesn't mean rejecting science. Quite the opposite. Good science requires us to question our assumptions, examine who and what our evidence actually represents (and who it doesn't), and change our minds when better evidence comes along.
I've got a lot more to say about what that looks like in practice, including the values behind my approach and why I think psychology could stand to be a little more punk.
Read more about my values/philosophy and more about punk psychology.
Look, degrees and credentials aren't what make someone a good psychologist, at the same time you should probably know that I actually have them.
Licensed Psychologist in Mississippi (#64 1207)
Authority to Practice Interjurisdictional Telepsychology (APIT): PSYPACT (Mobility #20535)
PhD in Counseling Psychology from The University of Southern Mississippi (APA accredited)
Board Certified Sexologist (Diplomate) by American Board of Sexology (#26106)
Geek Therapy Certified through Geek Therapy
Doctoral internship training through the Phoenix VA Health Care System (APA accredited, Trauma and General Mental Health emphasis)
Advanced experience in PTSD and trauma-focused psychotherapy
Former university psychology faculty
Experience in training, consulting with, and supporting trainees and psychologists at all developmental levels
Despite what my CV might suggest, I do occasionally stop thinking about psychology.
Outside of work, I’m a giant nerd, lifelong gamer, tattoo collector, coffee snob, and enthusiast of various weird little subcultures. The Legend of Zelda has occupied an unreasonable amount of real estate in my brain for most of my life, and yes, that is Majora’s Mask you may have spotted in one of my photos.
I also genuinely believe that the things we love matter. Our fandoms, communities, relationships, identities, hobbies, and weird little obsessions aren't distractions from who we are, they're part of how we make meaning, connect with other people, and build lives worth actually living.
Basically, I don't expect you to leave your humanity at the therapy-room door, because I'm not interested in leaving mine there either.
I look forward to hearing more from you, whether you are a potential client or a colleague!
If something you've read here made you think, “Oh thank fuck, I wouldn't have to explain all of this from scratch,” we might be a good fit.
You can learn more about how I approach therapy, what I specialize in, fees, and how to get started below.
Looking for training, consultation, or collaboration? Email me today to chat about how I can help!
(if you are a prospective client, please use the links in the section above. I do not communicate with prospective clients via email due to a lack of privacy).