Carleen Riley-Mercado, MSSW, LSCSW, Therapist in Overland Park, Kansas

Since beginning her clinical practice in 2017, Carleen has developed experience helping individuals facing anxiety, depression, and alcohol and drug use concerns. She understands that every person’s journey is unique and works collaboratively with patients to identify meaningful goals and create practical strategies for lasting change. In addition to these areas of focus, she offers support for a wide range of mental health and life challenges.

Carleen incorporates evidence-based approaches tailored to each patient’s needs, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). She also offers additional therapeutic interventions to help patients build resilience, strengthen coping skills, improve relationships, and develop healthier patterns of thinking and behavior.

She enjoys working with a diverse range of populations, including individuals in the LGBTQ+ community, military veterans, and those involved in adoption or foster care experiences. Whether supporting a child experiencing behavioral challenges, a teen navigating school-related stress, or an adult facing major life transitions, Carleen strives to create a welcoming, nonjudgmental environment where patients feel heard, respected, and empowered.

Outside of her clinical work, Carleen enjoys cooking new recipes, spending time with loved ones while watching a good movie, photographing sunrises during morning walks, and traveling. She also enjoys exploring parks, museums, aquariums, and zoos, experiences that help inspire balance, curiosity, and connection in her own life.