He is a licensed counselor with 11 years of demonstrated work experience in delivering mental health, psychosocial and career services to individuals, groups, and communities. He is a Registered Guidance Counselor (ranked 8th in the 2016 Board Licensure Examination), a Licensed Professional Teacher, a Certified Career Coach from Career Coach Institute – an accredited ICF Coach Training Institution, and a Certified Mental Health First Responder from Mental Health First Response. Richard graduated cum laude with a degree of BS in Psychology – Educational Psychology Stream from PNU-Manila. He earned his MA in Education (Guidance) from the University of the Philippines – Diliman and advanced coursework and clinical counseling experience leading to PhD in Education (Guidance) from the same university.

• 10+ years of professional experience in providing full-scale mental health, career, and psychosocial services to individuals, groups, and communities
• Counseling and Psychotherapy
• Career Counseling and Coaching
• Psychological Testing and Assessment
• Career Development
• Program Development
• Consulting
• Learning and Development
• Research and Evaluation
• Organizational Development

Aside from being the Programs and Operations Head of SFIC Career Center Inc., he is also connected with Philippine Normal University – Manila as an Associate Counselor, and a Senior Lecturer at UP College of Education. He also functions as one of the Board Directors of Career Development Association of the Philippines (CDAP).

He has facilitated more than 3,000 lectures, seminars, workshops and trainings to date to different organizations, schools, colleges and universities; with topics covering career and life coach training, resiliency and grit, mental health (for kids, adolescents, and adults), program and curriculum development, psychological first aid and debriefing, mental health, personality development, counselor training, teacher training, parenting, teambuilding, career guidance, research and evaluation, psychometrics, etc. He also consults schools, communities, and organizations in implementing, managing, and evaluating psychosocial programs and interventions. He has written, presented and published several research articles in selected journals, international and national conferences. His research interests are 21st century skills (socio-emotional skills), forgiveness motivation and disposition, personality traits, Filipino character strengths and happiness (human flourishing).

Richard is a regular member of Philippine Guidance and Counseling Association (PGCA), an Associate Member, American Psychological Association (APA), Division of Counseling and Educational Psychology; an Advanced/Professional Member, International Society of Psychology, Counseling and Education (ISPCE), Asia Pacific Career Development Association of the Philippines (APCDA) and International Society of Substance Use Professionals (ISSUP). He has also been invited to be an honorary member of Chi Sigma Iota – Alpha Phi Omega Honor Society in Counseling, USA, and Phi Gamma Mu and Phi Kappa Phi International Honor Societies.