Patricia Riley, LCSW

Patricia Riley is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with two decades of experience helping people handle life's pressures. She focuses on practical strategies so clients can reduce distress and build skills that matter day to day.

She often uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people recognize unhelpful thoughts and try new behaviors. She also uses Motivational Interviewing to support readiness for change and to strengthen personal goals. Those approaches guide how she structures sessions and homework assignments.

Patricia works with concerns such as stress, anxiety, depression, and addictions. She also helps people facing relationship strain, parenting challenges, grief, trauma and abuse, and issues around intimacy and self-esteem. Additional areas include eating-related concerns, ADHD, caregiver stress, and the stresses that come with life transitions.

Her style is respectful and direct. She listens first, then suggests manageable steps clients can practice between sessions. Sessions are tailored to each person’s situation rather than following a one-size-fits-all plan. Practical tools and clear goals are emphasized so progress can be tracked.

Patricia draws on experience from many settings across California. She aims to create a space where people feel heard and can try new ways of coping. If someone wants a therapist who combines problem-focused skills with supportive coaching, she can be a steady guide through change.

CBT and Motivational Interviewing in Online Sessions

Patricia commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people spot unhelpful thoughts and test new behaviors. That approach breaks problems into smaller parts so clients can practice specific skills and notice change. Motivational Interviewing is used to explore a person’s readiness to change and to build motivation for steps like reducing substance use or improving self-care.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. She collaborates with each person to choose techniques that fit their goals, needs, and comfort level. Sessions are adjusted over time if something isn’t helping, and clients are invited to give feedback about what feels useful.

Online sessions include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging for check-ins or quick coaching. Video sessions allow face-to-face conversation and screen-sharing for worksheets. Phone sessions can be a good shorter option or when bandwidth is limited. Live chat and text messaging work well for brief check-ins, coaching, or keeping momentum between longer sessions. These formats make therapy more flexible and easier to fit into busy lives.