Carleen Riley-Mercado, LMSW, LSCSW

Carleen Riley-Mercado is a licensed social worker who helps people facing stress, anxiety, depression, and addiction. She also supports those struggling with parenting challenges, self-esteem, grief, and relationship or intimacy concerns. With ten years of experience, she aims to make therapy a straightforward, respectful process.

Carleen centers each session on the whole person and their values. She listens for what matters most to the individual and works alongside them to set useful goals. Sessions are collaborative and down-to-earth, focusing on practical steps people can try between meetings.

Her approach draws on a mix of methods that target thoughts, habits, and emotional patterns. She uses techniques to notice unhelpful thinking, practice new coping skills, and strengthen close relationships. The goal is not quick fixes but steady, manageable change.

Carleen has worked with people from diverse backgrounds, including clients with Christian faith, LGBTQ+ identities, and a range of personal values. She emphasizes respect for each person’s identity and beliefs while helping them navigate life transitions and difficult emotions.

People who come to her often want clearer boundaries, fewer overwhelming reactions, or more confidence in parenting and work roles. Her style is calm and direct, with an emphasis on practical tools and compassion. Clients are invited to move at their own pace while building skills that fit everyday life.

How her approaches translate to online therapy

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice thoughts and choose actions that match their values. It is useful when worry or negative thinking gets in the way of living the way you want. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on spotting unhelpful thought patterns and trying different behaviors to reduce distress. It often helps with anxiety, depression, sleep, and coping skills. Attachment-Based Therapy looks at relationship patterns and how early connections shape current reactions; it can be helpful when relationship or intimacy issues cause ongoing stress.

Finding the right approach is a team effort. The therapist will talk with each person about their goals and preferences and suggest methods that fit those needs. Sessions are collaborative, so plans can shift as progress is made and new issues come up.

Session formats are not specified in the biography, so confirm current options before booking. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into busy days, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when schedules demand it. It can also let people use a quieter setting, limit video use if that helps, or work around work and caregiving responsibilities. Talk with the therapist during the matching step to learn which session styles she currently offers.