CalmingPathways

Welcome to CalmingPathways!

Psychotherapy for Youth and Adults in Florida

Mental health is health: a simple truth. Please begin your journey to discover pathways toward peace and fulfillment.

"The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I change."

— Carl Rogers

Welcome to the sanctuary of wellness! Seeking help does not need to be limited to your lowest points, but can be a proactive step toward improving the quality of your life.

Riley Strauss, MA, RMHC-I

Learn About Me!

My Specialties

Depression is deeply painful. It can isolate you from your intuition and your authentic self, from your contentment in life. It may convince you that you are not worthy, that you are alone in your suffering, and it may fill your mind to engage in self-sabotaging behaviors. The truth is that you are not alone, and these miserable feelings do not need to last forever. Through connecting with one another, engaging in breath-work, and re-building your identity, and learning helpful skills, my goal is to help you find joy in life.
Grief is a time unlike any other. It can feel wholly disorienting - a lot no longer makes sense, and even simple things can feel complicated. Grief is a unique experience. Every loss feels different, and every person grieves differently. There is no right way to grieve, and there is no time line for grief. In any way I can, I will sit with you and try to learn about your relationship with your loved one. I will do my best in effort to help you survive, process, and carry your grief.
Are you feeling uneasy, afraid of the future, and anxious? I will provide you the space to talk through the worries looping in your brain. Together, we will increase awareness of the origins of these thoughts, and work to understand them more. By figuring out where they come from, you can increase self-compassion and challenge these thoughts. In our work, you will learn self-care strategies to utilize on a daily basis and in times of distress.
Life transitions can be hard! Whether you are transitioning to college, going through a break-up, looking for a new job, or starting to have children, I hope to be there to support you. I can help you process your experiences, and encourage you to follow your intuition when making tough decisions.
Do you feel lost and alone? Are you trying to figure out who you are and where you fit in? By exploring your inner world and lived experiences in therapy, we can learn more about who you are, and who you hope to become. Identity work is a process that defines your beliefs, values, and sense of self. We will evaluate these concepts, discuss what is getting in the way, and cultivate ways to be mindful and compassionate on our path to self-exploration and growth.

What This Journey May Look Like

In our initial sessions, we will discuss the psychotherapeutic process collaboratively to identify what may best support you. Here, we will ask each other questions, share stories, and learn about one another to build a foundation of trust and support. You are a unique individual, and my priority is to create a safe space where you feel valued and heard.

Cultivating Trust

Uncovering Dynamics

We will explore your life experiences, relationships, and behavior patterns. Using a developmental lens, we will explore potential unresolved conflicts throughout your life that may influencing your current life, and foster a deeper self-understanding through this work.

Skills may be useful in our time together. We can incorporate mindfulness practices to enhance self-regulation, live in the present, and help manage difficult moments. Depending on your needs, we may incorporate skills-based work from Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) or Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to further support you.

Learning Skills

Holistic Integration

We will discuss how to holistically integrate the insights and skills gained in therapy to your daily life. These practices will be applied to your routine for ongoing self-development, growth, and fulfillment in life.

"I believe that a different therapy must be constructed for each patient because each has a unique story."

— Irvin Yalom