After having graduated Clifton Senior High school in 1977, Dr. Riccioli went to Bologna, Italy to study medicine. He received a Baccalaureate in Science "equivalent"(1980) and received his M.D. degree from Bologna University (1988) and license to practice medicine in Italy (1989).

Dr. Riccioli completed a 3 yr. internship training program in Emergency Room Medicine at Sant' Orsola University Hospital in Bologna, Italy. He practiced general medicine for only a short time after, because he became disillusioned with the limitations of general medicine. He then became more interested in counseling and mind-body health (mental health, health psychology, natural medicine & wellness), and at the same time, started studying in greater depth, the areas of nutrition, (food, vitamins, minerals) and herbs.

Dr. Riccioli says, "While completing my training in the Emergency Room as an emergency Room Physician at the University Hospital of Bologna, Italy (1989-1992), I also decided to volunteer and help as a counselor (addictions, general counseling). This has given me opportunity to personally come in contact with many people, who have reported to have on going, unresolved issues or conflicts, which have affected them emotionally and mentally in various ways. It was at this time, that my interest in Health Psychology and Mind-Body Medicine started, and began to grow.

I started to dedicate most of my time to study and research this area, and was not surprised to read that there exists some type of connection between illness (disease), and the psychological part of our being; Example: consequences, resulting from unresolved conflicts or issues, manifest themselves through various emotional states.
Many research studies have clearly confirmed, that these unresolved conditions, if allowed to continue over time, may act as a form of "chronic stress", (depending on the individual, pre-existing conditions and other factors).

This may set the stage for a "chain-reaction" of serious consequences (such as weakening the body's defense mechanisms and other systems), starting silently internally, and finally manifesting itself externally (Example: physical symptoms... anywhere from a cold to cancer), therefore, leading to further health issues and an unbalanced healthy state. (See the PNI topic to the left).

As a result, this has opened my interest in the area of Mind-Body Medicine and Health Psychology. I have become sensitive to those affected, with a greater understanding, and this has giving me a desire to help those in need, through counseling.

After having spent much time studying and researching the area of mental health and health psychology, he sees how the affects of prolonged stress and unresolved issues, are a major contributing factor, or may even be the most likely root cause of a gradual deterioration of one's general health, from depression, to a cold, and if allowed to continue... even cancer. (see PNI section to the left) This is why he is dedicated to helping people, primarily, in the area of mind-body health as a Counselor. (see General Counseling on the left)

Dr. Riccioli had previously worked in the area of Clinical Hypnotherapy, and was featured in 2 issues of Americas #1 leading alternative health magazine, "Alternative Medicine", now called "Natural Solutions Magazine"(Issue 25, September 1998; Issue 28, March 1999), concerning emotions, the mind and healing. His work is mentioned in America's best selling book on Alternative Medicine," Alternative Medicine: The Definitive Guide". Though he was successful, he left that field after he became a Christian. He realized that the changes which took place, were a result of (1)confronting the person and sin (Example: being unforgiving, anger, bitterness, etc..), and (2) applying principles found in the Bible (which are effective without hypnosis) which he had learned, before even becoming a Christian. Dr. Joseph also specializes in the area of Mind-Body Integration, and Counseling plays a major role in his endeavor to help people, especially those who have had stressful traumatic events, or were diagnosed by a physician with depression, anxiety, eating disorders or other issues not resolved by medications or orthodox medicine.

Dr. Riccioli witnessed a direct relationship between emotional health and illness, after having counseled many people for the past 18 years. This area of study called Mind-Body Medicine (or Behavioral Medicine), has led him on a journey to explore and further his studies in this area. One of the training programs he completed, is a clinical training program in Mind-Body Medicine (Behavioral Medicine) at the Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine / Harvard Medical School. As a result of this training, Dr. Riccioli decided to study in greater depth and become a researcher in a specific branch of science called "Psychoneuroimmunology" (PNI - click on the PNI link on the left to find out more) which deals with the inter-connections/inter-relationships between emotions and our health, and how our immune system, hormones and other neuro-chemicals are affected. This is why counseling is a very important part of the practice, since it has a great influence on our health and the healing process, apart from the food we eat, physical exercise and our life-style habits.

Dr. Joseph returned to the U.S. in 1995, and said, " besides being disillusioned with the limitations of allopathic medicine, while researching and investigating the medical field on the internet and in person, I discovered evidence of corruption, false medical information reported, withholding important information, and dishonesty within the healthcare system (AMA, FDA) and Pharmaceutical industry. (I suggest you read these 2 books: (1)Racketeering in Medicine: The Suppression of Alternatives ,James P. Carter, M.D., Dr. P.H.; (2) Natural Cures, Kevin Trudeau. ) This led me to no longer apply for a medical license in the US., and my love, devotion, and desire to counsel and help people, along with my convictions about natural medicine led me to work in these two fields. Please note, I mainly work as a counselor, but to help the body restore its natural balance and wellness, I will recommend supplements and herbs, because toxic chemicals (medicines) most times cause more health problems then benefits. Therefore, * I am not licensed as a medical doctor in the U.S., but as a Professional Christian Counselor and Naturopathic Physician.

Although Dr. Riccioli still holds a license to practice general medicine in Italy, his intent here, is to only help people in their quest for emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual well-being, and considers himself more as a counselor, natural health consultant, health researcher, investigator and educator.

He knows the policies and politics of the American Health Care System (AMA, Federal Trade Commission, Food and Drug Administration and Insurance companies) do not, in most cases, consider first using non-toxic, less expensive, life saving alternative approaches. Unfortunately, as a result, those who wish to improve, or regain and maintain a balanced state of optimal health do not have the necessary information or education to equip them to do so, or even allow them to make a well informed decision. Most of all, the dangerous side effects and detrimental consequences which may result from various prolonged drug use (pharmaceuticals are man-made, toxic chemicals), along with their high cost, persuaded him to research other alternative, natural approaches and modalities, which can bring the body back into a balanced, healthy state. These are also less toxic, less expensive, and effective.

Dr. Riccioli states, "drugs have their place and can be life saving in an medical emergency or in emergency medical conditions. After much research and investigating, and after having experienced personally some of these healing systems with successful results, I desired to inform and educate others who were dependent on drugs, about alternative approaches, and they also have benefited form these as well. I know healthy people don't need drugs, so education which leads to prevention is the answer!" He believes, after much research, that the body normally tends toward self-healing, because it is equipped to do so, and a balanced healthy state can again be re-established. Education is definitely fundamental in maintaining a healthy, functioning body.

Dr. Riccioli also states, " people must be made aware of effective, natural, alternatives, instead of depending only on addicting drugs, especially, after having studied in depth, researched, investigated, and examined the effectiveness of various alternative approaches based on the results of scientific and clinical studies." Once educated and informed, people can then decide and choose if they would like to first try a natural, alternative approach instead of drugs, and use one (or more in combination) of the many non-toxic, much less costly alternative solutions, rather then introduce more toxic chemicals(non-prescription and prescription drugs) into our self-healing bodies, which many times can lead to further damage other parts of our bodies. Knowing and understanding about alternative approaches, combined with learning through education, allows people to take responsibility for their own health, instead of being dependent on drugs." Again, this is a main goal of the wellness counseling.

In 1996, Dr. Riccioli became a Christian, and was called to the ministry in 1999. He was ordained into the ministry, and started New Life Ministries, a Christian Evangelistic Outreach, Counseling and training ministry.

He presently serves as a bi-vocational Assistant Pastor and Open Air Evangelist with Christ International Baptist Church, which meets at First Reformed Church in Little Falls, N.J. Dr. Riccioli is a Certified Christian Chaplain (International Federation of Christian Chaplains, National Chaplains Corps.) and conducts training seminars in " Biblical Evangelism and Open Air Evangelism." Presently, he is working on a ministry project called, “Youth Hope”, which has a goal to reach out, help and mentor our youth population who have no one to turn to or no where to go for help.

Pastor Joseph's ministry, New Life Ministries, is located at: GodsLove4U.com