Elizabeth Riley

Associate Marriage and Family Therapist|Clinically Supervised

I'm a strong believer that authenticity is a huge part of the therapeutic relationship. I show up as authentically me, so that you can feel comfortable showing up as authentically you. Too often, we feel as though we have to hide certain parts of ourselves from others, that we're "too much", or that our more vulnerable feelings won't be accepted. In my therapy room, the goal is for you to feel completely safe and supported to be entirely true to you, so that we can focus on what you want to focus on, rather than feeling like you have to say the "right things" or be "put together" all the time.

I always knew that I wanted to be part of a helping profession, ever since kindergarten. While other kids said they wanted to be an astronaut or princess when they grow up, I said "I don't know but something that helps people." As I went through school, everyone referred to me as the "therapist friend", and every aptitude test I took suggested various areas of the therapy field. It felt right in my soul, so I refined my areas of interest and landed on marriage and family therapy. Of course, I'm also open to seeing individuals, because I've had my own struggles with mental health as well. I know what it's like to battle anxiety, depression, and trauma. Betrayal trauma in couples may be my ultimate passion, but I have a huge soft spot in my heart for individuals as well.

Many people view therapy as a professional "having all the answers." I personally prefer to work much more collaboratively with my clients, guiding you to recognize the answers on your own. My job is not to "fix" you, because you are not broken. My job is to walk alongside you and help to lighten the burdens you carry, and teach you the skills so that you ultimately won't need me anymore. I don't believe in keeping my clients dependent on therapy, because that just milks people for money. I like to explain it with a metaphor: you come in and give me the puzzle pieces you can't sort through. I may be able to see the picture on the box of how the pieces go together, but if I were to do the puzzle for you, that doesn't help you in the long run. I prefer to guide you through putting the pieces together yourself, so that the next time life hands you a puzzle, you can handle it on your own. I will support you, I will challenge your blindspots when needed, and I will always honor the courage and vulnerability it takes to seek therapy in the first place.