Fjolla Riza

I'm a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who works with adolescents and adults navigating trauma, anxiety, relationship difficulties, identity, life transitions, and the lasting impact of difficult or overwhelming experiences. I have a particular passion for working with adolescents, immigrants and refugees, BIPOC clients, and individuals navigating questions of culture, belonging, and identity.

I earned my Master of Social Work from the University of Chicago and began my clinical work at the Kovler Center for Survivors of Torture, working with individuals impacted by forced migration, political violence, persecution, and complex trauma. Those experiences deeply shaped the therapist I am today and strengthened my understanding of how trauma can affect not only individuals, but families and generations.

I am trained in EMDR and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT). As someone who also understands the experience of navigating different cultural worlds, I bring cultural humility, curiosity, and a genuine respect for the experiences and identities my clients bring into the room.

My approach is warm, collaborative, trauma-informed, and honest. I don’t believe therapy should feel like sitting across from someone who simply nods and takes notes. I want to understand you—your story, your relationships, your culture, the patterns you’ve developed to survive, and the parts of yourself you may be trying to understand or change.

I draw from EMDR, TF-CBT, cognitive and behavioral approaches, and other evidence-based interventions while tailoring therapy to the person in front of me. Depending on what you need, our work may involve processing trauma, recognizing patterns, developing healthier ways of coping, strengthening boundaries, or reconnecting with parts of yourself that have been overshadowed by survival.

I also value humor, authenticity, and real human connection in therapy. I will meet you with compassion, but I will also gently challenge you when it can help you grow. My goal is not to tell you who to become, but to help you understand yourself more deeply and move toward a life that feels more intentional, grounded, and genuinely yours.

Our first session is really about getting to know one another. You don’t need to arrive knowing exactly what to say, where to begin, or even what you want therapy to look like. We’ll talk about what brought you in, what has been happening in your life, what feels difficult right now, and what you hope might be different.

I’ll ask questions about your history, relationships, experiences, strengths, and the important people and communities in your life, but we’ll move at a pace that feels manageable. You will never be expected to tell your entire story or disclose painful experiences before you are ready.

Most importantly, the first session gives us an opportunity to see whether we feel like a good fit. My hope is that you leave feeling heard, understood, and a little clearer about where we can begin.