Name: Holly LaSalle-Ricci, Ph.D.

Distinction: Founder of Ricci Psychology of The Palm Beaches

City: Palm Beach Gardens and Palm Beach

Clinical psychologist Holly LaSalle-Ricci has two office locations but treats many of her patients who have anxiety disorders at their point of panic.

“The most effective type of treatment for multiple anxiety disorders is exposure therapy, where the patient engages in the activity they most fear,” Ricci said. “For example, I have taken patients with water phobia out on boats and swimming in the ocean.

“Another one of my other clinical interests is compulsive hoarding,” she said. “I have spent months at a time decluttering the mansions of Palm Beach.”

A large percentage of her patients have trichotillomania (compulsive hair-pulling) or excoriation (compulsive skin-picking) disorder, conditions that also require highly tailored interventions, she said.

“I do some forensic work and work with many divorced couples and their children,” she said.

She believes in a multidisciplinary approach to treatment and consults regularly with pediatricians, GPs, dermatologists, and psychiatrists.

Last month, after working with a psychiatric practice in Wellington for nine years, Ricci opened her own practice, Ricci Psychology of the Palm Beaches (www. riccipsychology.com).

“It has always been my dream to go out on my own,” she said, “and now the opportunity presented itself. It has been exciting, terrifying, and extremely rewarding. Fortunately, I have a wonderful network of friends and family who have dropped everything to help me get on my feet.”

Ricci grew up on the north shore of Long Island before moving to Washington for 10 years.

“I met my wonderful husband (attorney Edward Ricci) in a Shakespeare class at Georgetown and we stayed in D.C. for graduate and law school. We were married at the New York Athletic Club in the summer of 2004 and will celebrate 11 years this month.”