About Riley Strauss,
MS RMHCI

Riley is a compassionate, genuine, and dedicated mental health clinician who creates a supportive and calming space for clients to explore their inner worlds and lived experiences.

She earned a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a Child and Adolescent Specialization from The Family Institute at Northwestern University. Prior, Riley completed a Bachelor’s in Psychology and Sociology with a Criminal Justice Certificate from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She has experience in private practice, intensive outpatient, and partial hospitalization settings, providing individual and group psychotherapy to clients with a variety of mental health concerns.

Riley prioritizes collaboration and tailors treatment to accommodate each client’s unique needs by utilizing a blend of relational-psychodynamic and person-centered approaches and incorporating skills-based interventions from cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). Her goal is to guide clients toward a more meaningful self-understanding by helping them explore the underlying causes of their pain and empowering them to embrace their authentic selves. Riley also believes in strengths-based and holistic practices, viewing them as essential for growth and healing.

Riley is a Certified Grief Practitioner and is training to obtain a Certificate in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy. She engages in regular supervision and case consultation to support her professional development and to remain current with best practices. Her clinical focus includes working with college-aged students, young adults, and new mothers navigating identity and life transitions, as well as challenges related to grief, anxiety, perfectionism, depression, and family or attachment dynamics. Riley firmly believes in the power of prioritizing overall health and wellness. She is confident that seeking help is not limited to one’s lowest points but can be a proactive step toward improving the quality of their life.

Aside from her professional pursuits, Riley enjoys the outdoors, trying new restaurants and cooking at home, spending time with her puppy, playing tennis, and traveling with loved ones. As a mental health advocate, Riley is committed to helping others on their journey toward a balanced and fulfilling life.

She welcomes clients in the office and via telehealth.