Eiko Riley-Intern

My name is Eiko Riley, and I am a mom of four and a Nashville native. I received a Bachelor of Science in Social Work from Tennessee State University, and currently I am pursuing a Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy at Lipscomb University.

Being a mom of four has deeply influenced my ambition to become a therapist. My children have given me a perspective on life and a deep appreciation for the joys and challenges of family. I am passionate about multigenerational family relationship patterns, parenting, and men’s overall mental health. I also have a deep interest in creating a safe space for children and teenagers to understand and navigate their social-emotional development.

I have decades of life experience, professional experience supporting mental health and developmentally disabled populations, teaching, and life coaching. I bring a diverse and practical background to my work and my approach to therapy. I am becoming a therapist because healing feels good to the soul. Holding space for clients to have an opportunity to explore healing is something I consider both a great responsibility and an honor.

Along with my Strategic Therapeutic approach, I am currently on track to gaining a play-based therapy specialty. My work as a therapist is grounded in systems, and within a family systems perspective, I have a special interest in how relationships shape our experiences in life. My goal as a therapist is to actively listen to themes of power, relational dynamics, the unconscious resistance to change, and existing strengths within the system.