About Akilah Riley-Richardson

As I sat to type these paragraphs, I asked myself: "Akilah, what do you want people to truly know about you?"  Those four words written above in bold  describe what I strive for. 

As a human being, I know both  joy and pain in my own personal life. I have learnt that all of my emotions deserve my attention, respect and curiosity.  This approach also grounds me to do the work I do with my clients. 

 I am a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional, a Facilitator and Trainer, as well as a  Couples Therapist. I am certified in the STAIR Method. I  have received training in various areas including Somatic Experiencing, Brainspotting, Playback Theatre,  Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, Neuroscience, Emotionally Focused Therapy, Psychobiological Approach to Couples Therapy, Compassion Focused Therapy, and Internal Family Systems Therapy.

I am  the founder of the  Relational Healing Institute, which is dedicated to the healing of  relationships, especially those of marginalized people. I am also the creator of the P.R.I.D.E model which is an approach that is useful when working with clients and in clinical supervision. P.R.I.D.E stands for Pivot, Rumble, Imagine, Develop and Evolve. 

Imagination  means a lot to me. I invite my clients to imagine new ways of being in this world. I am their co-traveller as they steer into paths that make sense to their well-being. 

I am a mother. I am a partner. I am a researcher. I am a social worker. I am an advocate. I am an educator. I am a facilitator. I am a therapist. I am a person. I bring all of who I am to the spaces that I serve. They are listed in my affiliations below. 

I show up as I am to the work that I do.  I bring my skill and when needed, my stories to help people become the best version of themselves. 

I sit with my people hoping to help them to find a sense of Authenticity, Abundance, Alignment and Attunement.

May you be well! May you be happy! May you be at peace!

Warm Regards,

Akilah Riley-Richardson, MSW, CCTP