“Each step in my medical career has been propelled by the same belief: That every person has inherent and immeasurable worth. Becoming an Addiction Psychiatrist was the culmination of multiple years determining the medical specialty that best expressed this core belief. There is hope for every person. Nobody is too far gone. Recovery from substance use disorders is incredibly demanding, but my greatest joy as a physician is witnessing people fully restored to the richness and fullness of life.”
Dr. Risma aims to treat each and every one of his patients with the dignity and respect they deserve. Detoxification from substances can be emotionally and physically painful; Dr. Risma guides medical care to minimize suffering and provide a bridge to engage in meaningful recovery. He values care that is compassionate, understandable and collaborative. Patients can expect an honest discussion of risks, benefits and alternatives to each decision made together. Through collaboration, the patient’s values and goals are upheld while Dr. Risma provides careful recommendations for next steps in care. His patients can expect a warm and professional interaction style. He aims to be fully present in each moment so that patients feel valued and heard. Dr. Risma has an adaptable interview style that focuses on rapport building, and he often integrates humor into interactions to bring levity to the discomfort of seeking addiction treatment.
As an Addiction Psychiatrist, Dr. Risma employs a “less is more” approach. Too often, patients with Substance Use Disorders have also been misdiagnosed with erroneous mental health diagnoses. This often leads to confusion, discouragement and ineffective medication management. Dr. Risma carefully considers underlying mental health diagnoses and recommends simple and effective medication options for treatment. Throughout this process, he maintains an honest dialogue with his patients so that diagnoses and treatment are fully understood. He integrates components of Motivational Interviewing (MI) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to facilitate growth and change.
Dr. Risma is a board-certified Addiction Psychiatrist and currently provides medical care in Retreat Residential program at Pine Rest (subacute detoxification, short-term residential, and partial hospitalization addiction treatment). He has prior experience in outpatient addiction psychiatry treatment as well. In addition to these clinical roles, he has a passion for teaching the next generation of physicians and serves as the Associate Program Director for the Pine Rest Psychiatry Residency Program. He is an advocate for the community and previously served on the Opioid Advisory Commission for the State of Michigan.
Dr. Risma completed his undergraduate at Wheaton College (Illinois), medical school at University of Nebraska Medical Center, Psychiatry Residency at Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services, and Addiction Psychiatry Fellowship at Mayo Clinic (Minnesota). He returned to Pine Rest for work after completing medical training in 2020. His primary clinical expertise is medical care for patients with co-occurring psychiatric and substance use disorders.
