Riley Gramza

MA, ALMFT

she/her/hers

Recent Posts


I believe that people are capable of healing and growing in many magnificent different ways. We have options for what that gets to look like for us. I also believe we innately tend to seek out familiarity and connections, even and especially when feeling lost. Noticing what we do often can tell us so much about what we’re longing for and what we need to get ourselves to a point that feels healthier and more fulfilling to us. By acknowledging and accepting our feelings and being open to learning from them, we are able to connect with an authentic part of who we are and the world around us in a way that really does make some things better. In therapy, we can build insight around your patterns and context to learn more about what you need and what matters to you.

My clinical interests involve working with individuals, couples and families who are undergoing or anticipating significant changes to their personal identity, life-stage and circumstance, and the nature of their relationship. As a Marriage and Family Therapist my clinical approach is relational and systemic. This means I work collaboratively with my clients and intentionally regard the personal, cultural and contextual factors that shape clients’ experiences, needs, and values. I draw on evidence based theory and practice, largely from Attachment theory, Emotion Focused Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Psychodynamic Therapy to foster growth, health and sustainable change.

I have a trauma-informed, LGBTQIA+ affirming, culturally responsive, anti-racist approach therapy to adults, couples, and teens, and people in parental and caregiver roles. I have worked with a diverse population of clients addressing concerns such as relationship challenges, depression, anxiety, substance and process addictions, trauma, history of abuse and neglect, relationship to religion and spirituality, grief and loss, and perinatal mental health care. In my personal and therapeutic relationships I prioritize earning trust through creating a safe space to be reflective, curious, messy, playful, and vulnerable.

I earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology at University of Wisconsin-Madison and my masters in marriage and family therapy from Wheaton College.

  • IL LMFT License Number: 166001712
  • Type 1 NPI Number: 1689448789
  • Accepts: BCBS PPO and BlueChoice plans, Aetna PPO, UnitedHealthcare/Optum PPO, self-pay and out of network clients

Selected Training & Affiliation

  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
  • Emotion Focused Therapy
  • Emotion Focused Family Therapy
  • Gottman Level 1 training
  • Integrative Complex Trauma Treatment Certification
  • Member of Postpartum Support International

Key Beliefs

  • People can be complicated and still make sense.
  • Love can be real, very powerful and positive, and sometimes result in loss and pain.
  • Changing your ways and your mind are normal and healthy, and sometimes terribly hard.
  • We have more options than we often assume we do, especially when we are open to collaboration.

More About Me

  • I am working on spending my time more intentionally.
  • Recently this has looked like: making time to move around in a fun way that makes me smile and laugh everyday, taking new art classes, creating flavorful warm meals at home, and paying closer attention to story telling in various art forms.