Donna Riley

Hello, I am Donna Riley, LCSW, PhD Candidate. I am a clinical social worker and an adjunt professor at Stony Brook University.

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She received her Master's degree in Social Work from the School of Social Welfare at Stony Brook University (SUNY), where she is a Doctoral Candidate in Social Welfare. Donna's perspective of therapy is as diverse as the community that she serves. Her work with individuals is geared to strengthen their sense of self. She works with couples and families to help them create greater intimacy and connection with one another. She also facilitates peer support groups and small intimate therapeutic groups. Her keen focus on marginalized communities has Donna in great demand as a lecturer and presenter at conferences, universities and health and human service organizations. Donna's personal therapeutic model is a combination of Rogerian (person-centered therapy), the Empowerment Approach (connection between "social and economic justice" and "individual pain and suffering"), Family Systems Theory (connected to a living system); and Feminist Theory (gender and related concepts remain central to feminist social work theory). With this blend, the entire overarching concepts are framed in a strengths perspective. Donna's concepts have developed through her experience facilitating groups over the last nine years within the transgender community. In September 2008 she joined the Freedman Center team to combine four compassionate, passionate and dedicated social workers under one roof.

Clinical Specialist at FEGS

June 2008 - January 2011

Positive SPACE is a program that service people infected and affected with HIV. Within this program is the Safe SPACE a supportive program serving the LGBT community. In addition to individual and family counseling, I facilitate Trans Affirmations a support group for the transgender and gender variant community. I work with each client to develop a collaborative plan of action that will allow them to solve the problems that prevent them from living a completely healthy, happy life. I also offer consulting and workshops for organizations who need training and consultation on various aspects of Transgender mental health/clinical issues. My areas of expertise include: clinical services for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.

Clinical Specialist at FEGS

2007 - 2011

Sr. Loan Originator at Home Mortgage Originator / Closing / Department Director Title I Loans

1986 - 2011

Donna Riley had many years of experience as both a MORTGAGE BROKER and a MORTGAGE BANKER. Her unique background enables her to map the benefits of numerous types of loans to your specific needs to make sure you end up with the best loans possible. Her initial consultation with you will helped her identify your specific mortgage goals and needs in order to make sure your new mortgage fully addresses your financial objectives. Donna's expertise was always able to offer clients multiple loan options, always have competitive rates, always have fair and reasonable fees, always return your phone call within one hour and will always strive to exceed your service requirements. She consistently continued to educate herself about the latest mortgage trends such as higher limit FHA and VA loans. Additionally, her specialty was HA 203K rehabilitation loans. She saw the National licensing of mortgage professionals as a welcome initiative and completed the educational, testing and background requirements, to become a NMLS licensed professional.

Director of Transgender Services at LI GLBT Network

February 2005 - November 2008

Long Island Trans Experience, program Director.

Adjunt Professor at School of Social Welfare at SUNY Stony

August 2011

Graduate Level Advanced Macro Social Work: Emphasizes the understanding of theories and the development of advanced skills key to practice with groups, communities and organizations. Focus is placed on strategic planning, management, evaluation, policy analysis and development, program development, and organizational analysis and change as as applied in the health and social welfare fields.

Executive Director at Trans-Solidarity Project

November 2008

We are an organization dedicated to the engagement of effective empowerment for Transgender/Gender Variant people, as well as members of the GLB community. The Trans-Solidarity Project brings scholars and advocates together to engage in research, education and policy initiatives designed to advance the solidarity and equality of the GLBT community within the larger society. To that end, we strive to remove barriers that might inhibit these goals and promote the education of all people and governing bodies.

Clinician at The Freedman Center for Clinical Social Work

June 2008

The Freedman Center for Clinical Social Work brought together Diane E. Freedman, PhD; Jennifer Kelsch, LCSW; Leah Topek-Walker, LCSW, Bob Cline, LMSW and Jamie Hatzis, LMSW to combine six compassionate, passionate and dedicated social workers under one roof. This exciting new group practice builds on the legacy of Dr. Diane E Freedmanis private practice established in 1994.

Human Rights, Qualitative Research, Mixed Methods Research, Community Organizing, LGBT Services