- Hospice and end-of-life counseling
- Values-based therapy
- Practical coping skills
About Carleen
Carleen Riley-Mercado is a licensed social worker who helps people facing grief, stress, anxiety, depression, and addiction. She also supports those dealing with parenting challenges, relationship strain, self-esteem struggles, and life changes tied to illness and aging. She holds MI LMSW and KS LSCSW credentials and brings ten years of clinical experience to her work.
Her approach centers on the whole person and their values. She creates space for people from a range of backgrounds, including those with Christian faith, LGBTQ+ identities, conservative perspectives, and people who are non-religious. Sessions aim to be respectful and grounded in each person’s priorities.
In sessions she uses practical tools from several established methods. That can mean learning skills to manage difficult thoughts, building emotional awareness in relationships, or clarifying personal values to guide decisions. She also helps people process grief and the emotional impact of serious illness or caregiving roles.
Carleen emphasizes a steady, collaborative pace. She focuses on connection, clear goals, and skills you can use between visits. Her style blends direct skill teaching with supportive listening so people leave with tangible steps.
Her background includes a decade of clinical practice across Midwestern states and work with diverse concerns such as trauma, substance use, eating and sleeping issues, ADHD, and compassion fatigue. She aims to help people find clearer footing and practical ways to cope and move forward.
Her approach centers on the whole person and their values. She creates space for people from a range of backgrounds, including those with Christian faith, LGBTQ+ identities, conservative perspectives, and people who are non-religious. Sessions aim to be respectful and grounded in each person’s priorities.
In sessions she uses practical tools from several established methods. That can mean learning skills to manage difficult thoughts, building emotional awareness in relationships, or clarifying personal values to guide decisions. She also helps people process grief and the emotional impact of serious illness or caregiving roles.
Carleen emphasizes a steady, collaborative pace. She focuses on connection, clear goals, and skills you can use between visits. Her style blends direct skill teaching with supportive listening so people leave with tangible steps.
Her background includes a decade of clinical practice across Midwestern states and work with diverse concerns such as trauma, substance use, eating and sleeping issues, ADHD, and compassion fatigue. She aims to help people find clearer footing and practical ways to cope and move forward.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
LGBTRelationship issuesFamily conflictsTrauma and abuseGriefIntimacy-related issuesEating disordersSleeping disordersAnger managementCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCoping with life changesCompassion fatigueADHD
Additional focus areas
Aging and geriatric issuesAttachment issuesBlended family issuesBody imageCancerCaregiver issues and stressCodependencyCommunication problemsControl issuesCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDisruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)Divorce and separationDomestic violenceDrug and alcohol addictionEating and food-related issuesFamily problemsFertility issuesFirst responder issuesForgivenessGender dysphoriaGuilt and shameHospice and end-of-life counselingImmigration issuesInfidelityIntellectual disabilityIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeMidlife crisisMood disordersObsessions, compulsions, and OCDParanoiaPersonality disordersPolyamory / non-monogamous relationshipsPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressProcess addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)Self-harmSelf-loveSexualitySomatizationWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues
Therapeutic approaches
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Attachment-Based TherapyClient-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)Gottman MethodMindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingNarrative TherapySolution-Focused TherapySomatic TherapyTrauma-Focused TherapySystemic Therapy
Experience
10+ years
Credentials
Michigan, Kansas
Languages
English
Approaches that guide online grief and stress work
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy helps people focus on what matters most. It uses values to steer choices and teaches simple skills to reduce the power of painful thoughts and feelings. This approach can be useful for grief, anxiety, and coping with life changes.Attachment-Based Therapy looks at how early relationships shape current bonds and emotional patterns. Work here often involves recognizing interaction patterns and building more secure ways of relating, which can help with intimacy concerns and caregiver stress.
Finding the right approach is part of the process. The therapist will talk with each person about goals, preferences, and what feels most helpful. Together they will choose or blend methods so sessions match the client’s needs and pace.
Confirm current session options before booking as formats are not specified in the biography. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and remove travel time. It also lets people use tools and skill practice between sessions so work continues outside appointment times.
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she help with?
She works with grief, stress, anxiety, depression, and addiction. Other areas include parenting, relationship strain, self-esteem, trauma, caregiver stress, and aging-related issues.
How would you describe her therapy style?
Her style is collaborative and down-to-earth. She mixes skill teaching with listening and helps set clear, reachable goals.
What kind of experience does she bring?
She has ten years of clinical experience working across Midwestern states and with a wide range of concerns, from trauma recovery to substance use and grief.
Which credentials and location are listed?
She holds MI LMSW and KS LSCSW credentials and practices in Kansas.
Which languages are supported?
Sessions are offered in English only.
Can international clients work with her?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How are fees and payment handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What is the first step to begin therapy?
Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule according to the therapist’s availability.