Risa has an MSW from Fordham University and attended The Jewish Theological Seminary’s List College and has a BA from Columbia University. She has spoken about her history with mental illness for the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving and was featured in Women's Health Magazine's May 2016 issue regarding mental health. Risa was also a panelist on AOL Build discussing the effects of stigma on those with mental illness. In 2017, Risa was also featured in an episode of Dr. Oz discussing her success with ECT (electroconvulsive therapy) and was a featured speaker at Jewish Family Services of Greater Hartford’s first annual event: Embracing Possibility for Mental Health Awareness and was awarded the 2018 Humanitarian Award at the second annual event. She has written for Huffington Post, Psych Central, Kveller, Keshet, The Mighty, Bring Change 2 Mind and was published in the 2nd and 3rd volumes of Stigma Fighters Anthology and on her own blog, risasreality.com. Risa lives in central CT with her husband and their 13 year old child.