Dr. Cassandra Riedy

Life asks all of us to carry difficult things. I believe healing isn't measured by the absence of hardship but by our growing ability to carry it. As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) with a PhD in Mental Health Counseling, I specialize in helping individuals and couples navigate chronic illness, evolving medical needs, the relational impact of major medical challenges, and all of the other parts of life because no one lives just to be a patient. I come to this specialty with both years of experience as a therapist supporting specific illnesses like cystic fibrosis, diabetes, and cancer as well as lifelong experience as a sibling to a brother with chronic illness. My role is to help you better understand what you're carrying, strengthen what helps sustain you, and build a life that feels meaningful even when life doesn't become easier. If you are navigating illness, its impact on your relationships, or simply a life that feels

heavier than it should, I would be glad to hear your story and to help you carry it.

Therapy with me is a conversation built on curiosity rather than judgment. I believe that patterns and habits exist for a reason, so together we'll explore the thoughts, emotions, and ways of relating that have developed throughout your life, making sense of where they came from and what needs they have been trying to meet. This is especially important when navigating chronic illness or major medical challenges, which often reshape our relationships, identity, and the ways we move through the world. As we better understand those patterns, you can decide which ones continue to serve you and which ones you're ready to change.

Your first session isn't about having all the answers. It's about having a place where you no longer have to carry questions alone. If you have questions about me or my therapy process, I will be happy to answer them. Then we'll share time together exploring your story, understanding what has brought you here, and beginning to recognizing some patterns, experiences, and relationships that have shaped what your day looks like. By the end of our conversation, my hope is that you'll feel seen and understood as well as empowered to collaborate in what therapy looks like.