Carleen Riley-Mercado

Carleen Riley-Mercado is a licensed social worker who helps people facing stress, anxiety, depression, addiction, and parenting challenges. She brings 10 years of clinical experience and aims to make difficult moments easier to manage. Carleen centers respect for each person's values and identity in her work.

Carleen meets people where they are and focuses on practical steps they can use day to day. She listens for what matters most to each person, including faith, sexual orientation, or personal beliefs, and tailors the conversation to those priorities. Common topics she addresses include self-esteem, grief, trauma, intimacy concerns, and coping with life changes.

Her approach draws on several evidence-informed methods such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy. Sessions often include learning new skills, trying different thinking strategies, and practicing ways to handle strong emotions. The therapist aims for clear goals and steady progress rather than quick fixes.

Carleen also supports people working through career stress, caregiver strain, addiction recovery, and body image or eating-related issues. She notes experience with attachment-related concerns and aging or geriatric issues. Her work is collaborative, paced to the client's needs, and focused on building practical tools for everyday life.

Carleen holds LMSW and LSCSW credentials and practices in Kansas. She works with people from varied backgrounds and identities and seeks to create an environment of respect and honest conversation.

How therapy approaches guide online work

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) encourages noticing unhelpful thoughts while taking action that reflects personal values. It can help with anxiety, depression, and making steady changes aligned with what matters most. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying patterns of thinking and behavior that keep problems going and teaches practical tools to shift them. CBT is often used for anxiety, depression, and sleep or eating concerns. Attachment-Based Therapy looks at how early relationships shape current patterns and can help with intimacy, trust, and relationship struggles.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will talk with the client about their goals, preferences, and the issues they bring. Then she will recommend methods and try them collaboratively, adjusting as needed so the plan fits the person's life and aims.

The biography does not list specific online session formats, so confirm available options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when needed. It also lets people use tools and worksheets between meetings and practice skills in real time. Licensed professionals can guide choosing which format and pace will support the client's goals.