Today we’d like to introduce you to Tracy Riley.
Hi Tracy, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, but my path into social work began long before I ever understood what the profession was.
I was born into a large, blended family of “his, hers, and ours,” and I was the only “ours” child. As the youngest of ten, my family dynamic was anything but traditional. My siblings ranged from five to twenty-five years older than me, and I already had a niece and nephew by the time I was born.
My childhood was marked by dysfunction and neglect, and by the age of nine, physical abuse had become part of my life as well. At thirteen, I was removed from my home for the first time and placed in foster care for several months. After a brief period in relative care, I was eventually placed in a long-term group foster home.
Those experiences shaped me in ways I could not have understood at the time. I experienced the child welfare system not from a textbook or a classroom, but as a child living within it. Years later, I found my way back to that world from the other side—as a social worker.
In many ways, I didn’t simply choose social work. The path toward it had been forming throughout my life. My experiences gave me an understanding of vulnerability, resilience, and the importance of having someone willing to see and hear you when you feel as though no one else does. Today, those experiences are part of what informs the work I do as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No, it definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. The strange thing is, as a child, I didn’t know my family was different. I thought everyone had parents who told them they were ugly, fat, would never have friends, or simply didn’t take them to the doctor or dentist. I didn’t realize that wasn’t normal.
The abuse, neglect, foster care, and instability forced me to grow up quickly. Those experiences certainly left scars, but they also shaped the direction of my life. I eventually became a social worker, and I now get to be the person for others that I often needed when I was growing up.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Tracy Riley Counseling and Hypnosis is a mental health practice built around the belief that therapy doesn’t have to feel clinical, intimidating, or one-size-fits-all. I’m a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Florida, New York, New Jersey, and Delaware, and I also hold a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology.
What sets my practice apart is that I’m willing to work with the complicated stuff. In addition to traditional counseling, my work includes hypnosis and more complex family and court-involved cases, including reunification work. I’m comfortable having difficult conversations, thinking outside the box, and meeting people where they are rather than trying to make everyone fit into the same therapeutic mold.
My own life experiences are also a big part of how I show up as a therapist. I grew up experiencing abuse, neglect, foster care, and a group home. I know what it feels like to sit on the other side of the system and to need someone to listen, advocate for you, and see beyond what is happening in the moment. I think that gives me a perspective that education alone could never have given me.
Brand-wise, I’m probably most proud that Tracy Riley Counseling has grown without losing my personality. I never wanted to create a practice where people felt like they were walking into a sterile clinical environment. Mental health is serious, but that doesn’t mean everything surrounding it has to feel heavy. I want people to feel comfortable, accepted, and able to be themselves.
I’m also incredibly proud of the recognition the business has received, including being named the 2026 Jax Daily Record Top Entrepreneur of the Year, the 2025 Jax Chamber Professional Women’s Council Small Business Leader of the Year, and the 2022 Jax Chamber Health Council Small Business Leader of the Year.
At the end of the day, Tracy Riley Counseling and Hypnosis is about helping real people navigate real-life problems. Sometimes that means traditional therapy. Sometimes it means hypnosis. Sometimes it means stepping into a complicated family situation where there are no easy answers. Whatever brings someone through the door, my goal is to provide a place where they can be honest, feel heard, and figure out what comes next.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
I would want readers to know that where you start does not have to determine where you end up. I came from a childhood filled with abuse, neglect, foster care, and a lot of circumstances that could have taken my life in a very different direction. I certainly didn’t grow up thinking, “Someday I’m going to have a doctorate, own a business, write books, and become a therapist.”
I think that’s part of why I’m so passionate about what I do. I believe people can change their stories. You can go through really hard things without allowing those things to become your entire identity.
And I also believe we need to make mental health a little more human. Therapy doesn’t always have to be heavy or overly clinical. Sometimes we need to talk about the hard stuff, sometimes we need to laugh, and sometimes we need someone to remind us that we’re capable of more than we think.
If sharing my story—or doing the work I do—helps even one person look at their own life and think, “Maybe my story isn’t finished yet,” then I think that matters.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.TracyRiley.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TracyRileyCounseling
