Dr. Kimberly Riley

Biography

Qualifications & Experience

Doctor of Social Work, University of Southern California, 2020. Also, Washington State Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (2020) and Certificate of Completion of Telehealth for Mental Health (2020)

I received my Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Brandman University, Irvine in 2012 and a Master of Arts in Couples and Family Therapy from Seattle University in 2017.

I have also obtained the following certificates and licenses:

• Washington State Mental Health Practitioner (MHP) (2017)
• Washington State Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Associate (2017)
• Washington State Child Mental Health Specialist (2017)
• Certificate of completion in Motivational Interviewing training (2017)
• Certificate of completion in the “Draw it Out” children’s grief material training (2016)
• Certificate of Achievement in Psychological First Aid (2018)
• Certificate of completion in the “What is Narrative Practice?” training (2019)

Other counseling and mentoring experience

I mentored at-risk and high-risk youth for four years through the Partnering For Youth Achievement program. I also spent an 18-month internship at Catholic Community Services in King County as a Child and Family Therapist, where I worked with children and their families. Through my internship, I became aware of the challenges families face when working within multiple systems while trying to manage other parts of their lives that include their basic needs, cultural differences, and multiple diagnoses within one family system.

From 2014 to the present, I have volunteered and co-facilitated Journey to Freedom classes at the local YMCA, where adults can gain the freedom they desire from many different situations in their lives. I also create and co-facilitate marriage classes with my husband, who is a pastor at our church.

My Call to Christian Counseling

In high school I decided to pursue psychology because I believed that everyone could use someone to talk to. From then on, I determined to do whatever it took to make sure that I could provide what I believed people truly needed: a safe space to share.

After watching many of my friends and people I knew struggle in their marriage, I decided to go into a program that focused on couples and families so that I could provide a safe space for them to share and tools to help them share within their family system as well.

More About Me/On a Personal Note

My husband and I have three children. I enjoy reading, shopping, spending time with my family, and traveling to different places, mostly on the West Coast.

I can relate to those who want to go to counseling with their spouse at any stage. After several years of marriage, my husband and I decided to go to counseling and get tools to maintain and grow our marriage. We have found it to be a very rewarding experience. I also have experienced grief both as a child and as an adult. I can relate to those who may be grieving but have felt alone as they struggled to identify their feelings.

Services and Specialities

• Counseling for children
• Anxiety
• Grief and loss
• Couples counseling
• Family counseling

Counseling for Children

As a Child Mental Health Specialist in the state of Washington, I believe that the tools children gain while young will contribute to their well-being for the rest of their lives. Children have the desire to be whole, but sometimes do not have the support at home to achieve their goals. Teaching children how to work through problems on their own often promotes change in those around them.

Anxiety

Whether you or your child are experiencing anxiety in the home, at work, or in a school setting, we can work together to find unique ways to manage your anxiety. We will focus on identifying and understanding triggers so you can receive the support you need. Often, clients will come in with other presenting problems, with anxiety as a secondary byproduct of the primary issue. We’ll work to find the source of those feelings and develop a plan together to maximize daily functioning.

Grief and Loss

The loss of a loved one, whether through death or some other circumstance such as abandonment, is a difficult experience to navigate on one’s own. Committing to therapy is a wonderful way to work through the complicated emotions that accompany grief. Simply having a listening ear with whom you can process your thoughts can be a help in itself. During our sessions together, I’ll walk at your pace while equipping you with tools to help you keep moving forward.

If you know of a child who is struggling with grief, such as the loss of a parent through divorce, death, or drug use (ambiguous loss), I am trained in helping children identify their feelings around grief and loss. One therapeutic method I use is the “Draw it Out” book by Art with Heart, which encourages children to use art as a form of healing by expressing their feelings using creative methods. This book is often used as a conversation starter when children struggle to articulate their emotions using words.

Couples and Family Counseling

If you could use some support in your marriage or other family relationships, I would be happy to help. Together we can work on setting and achieving goals that will bring healing, understanding, and peace to the individuals in your family. We will identify the problems, the root causes of your stress, and develop effective coping skills. We’ll also explore what matters most to you as an individual as well as what it means for you to be a family unit.

Payment and Forms

Sessions: I offer 53-minute sessions. Sessions can be held more than once per week, weekly, or every other week. Scheduling options are discussed in greater detail during your Risk-Free Initial Session.

Availability (by office location):

Silverdale – Monday, Wednesday and Saturday

Fees: I offer a Risk-Free Initial Session for Individuals, Couples, Adults, Families, Adolescents, and Children looking to pursue counseling with me. Please note that there is a fee for the Risk-Free Initial Session as it is a clinical hour and reimbursable to most insurance companies, but if you choose not to reschedule and continue therapy after the initial session the entire fee for the session will be waived. For ongoing treatment the full fee per session is required at the time of service. For more information regarding standard session fees, please contact me directly at kimberlyr@seattlechristiancounseling.com or (253) 656-0733.

Insurance: As a Licensed Marriage Family Therapist a majority of insurance companies will reimburse for a portion of my services (as an Out of Network Provider). Please consult with your insurance provider as to whether they specifically cover Individuals, Couples, Adults, Families, Adolescents, or Children.

Receipts/Statements: In the event you require a printed or digital receipt, I will provide receipts for personal use, insurance reimbursement, Flex Spending Accounts (FSA), and Health Savings Accounts (HSA).

Payment options: Cash, Check, or Credit Card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, & American Express). A fee of up to 3.7% plus $0.15 per transaction will be added for credit card payments.