Walter Riso

Biography of Walter Riso

Walter Riso (born 1951) is an Argentine-Italian writer, psychologist, and professor, specializing in cognitive therapy and bioethics. He is best known for his books “Amar o depender?” (1999), “Ama y no sufras” (2003), “Pensar bien, sentirse bien” (2004), and “Los límites del amor” (2006). With a Doctorate in psychology and a Master’s degree in Bioethics, Riso has developed a long career as a clinical psychologist, training therapists and teaching at several Latin American universities. His scientific and popular texts have been translated into over 12 languages; he is particularly known for his works on self-improvement, personal growth, and non-dependent love. Riso is a founding member of the FORMAR center and honorary president of the Colombian Society of Cognitive Therapy.

Early Years and Education

Walter Riso was born in Naples, Italy, but was raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina with his family. He currently resides between Latin America and Europe. After completing high school, he studied psychology at the National University of San Luis. He later earned a PhD in Psychology from the Private University of San Pedro, a Master’s degree in Bioethics from the University of Bosque, and is a specialist in Cognitive Therapy from the University of Norte in Barranquilla.

Professional career

As a writer and speaker, Riso is known for his work as the founder of FORMAR and the Advanced Center for Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy. He has a long professional career as a clinical psychologist and has trained therapists. Additionally, he has taught at various universities in Latin America and Europe.

Works

His first works were published in the 90s, such as the famous “Love or Depend?” (1999), where he reflects on dependency and emotional attachment in relationships. Later came “Question of Dignity” (2000), “Divine Madness Love” (2000), “The Path of the Wise” (2000) and “Love Without Pain” (2003). In “Think Well, Feel Good” (2004), he invites the reader to improve their quality of life by changing the tone of their thoughts and avoiding negativity or mental rumination that can affect health.

“The Limits of Love” was published in 2006, followed by “The Right to Say No” (2009) and “The Art of Being Flexible” (2010), where he addresses the tendency to plan in an unpredictable world. Other notable works include “Male Affectivity” (2008), “Fall in Love with Yourself” (2012), “Wonderfully Imperfect, Scandalously Happy” (2015) and “I Already Said Goodbye, Now How Do I Forget You” (2017).

Also noteworthy is the Practical Guide series for overcoming emotional dependency, improving self-esteem, and not allowing oneself to be manipulated and be assertive (2013).

Pizzería Vesubio and Recent Works

In 2018, he published his first literary novel Pizzería Vesubio. Among his recent works are De mil amores (2019), a work in which he reflects on love and heartbreak; El coraje de ser quién eres (aunque no gustes): Guía para rebeldes que aman su individualidad (2020), about self-esteem and personal acceptance and Más fuerte que la adversidad (2021), in which he introduces various techniques for facing difficulties and growing with them.

His books have been translated into more than twelve languages, including Greek, English, German and Dutch.

Riso also regularly contributes to various media and his works can be found in different versions (digital, printed, lectures, audio).