I approach my practice with compassion, empathy, and nonjudgmental understanding.

The therapeutic setting is one that is empathic and supportive but also direct and challenging. Change is difficult and therapy can be very uncomfortable but overcoming a challenge is invaluable for the individual/couple that can set the goal that they wish to achieve.

Do you have ruminations that are self-critical? Do you avoid going out or joining social activities? Or maybe you become overwhelmed by anger, fear, shame, dread? Life doesn't have to be that hard. I believe that our behavior patterns are old ways of surviving difficult situations. I bring years of personal and professional experiences and training to foster a safe and collaborative relationship to be curious about your responses, update your system, so to speak, and learn and practice new skills.

Susan believes that within each indivdual, couple and family are the resources to make change. Through psychotherapy, she helps clients identify and use these resources to grow and change. Susan specializes in sex and internet addictions, alcohol and drug addictions and partners of addicts. She treats addictions with both group and individual therapy using a psychoeducational and cognitive behavioral approach.

I work with every participant to be as comfortable as possible and often view sessions as your time to share what is important to you! I am along for the journey and to provide safe space and guidance while you work through difficult situations.

Has the stress of everyday life become too overwhelming? Do you feel your emotions are running high and starting to negatively impact your relationships with others? Maybe you just don’t feel quite like yourself. Maybe you have tried to cope on your own, but nothing seems to make a meaningful, long-term impact. Now more than ever, people are feeling overwhelmed and uncertain about how they are supposed to care for their own needs while balancing relationships and busy schedules. Starting therapy can feel daunting, but it doesn’t have to be! I believe finding a therapist who is the right fit is key to lasting change. After an initial consultation, we will start by taking the time to understand the challenges you are facing. We will explore your past and present experiences to better understand the patterns and emotions that have you feeling “stuck,” and we will collaborate on the best plan to help you push through the barriers keeping you in place. I offer a safe and supportive environment while providing a new perspective on issues you are encountering in order to guide you along your healing journey. Helping people live a more confident and empowered life is my passion. The road to growth, change, and healing can be a difficult one, but you don’t have to walk it alone. Call or email today for a consult, and together we can get started on your path to a better life!

I work with clients from a wide variety of backgrounds, who have all come to a shared realization: that their way of living is no longer working for them. Whether you are struggling with addiction or depression or find yourself experiencing relationship difficulties, you aspire to something new; something more. Together we identify the nature of your particular dissatisfaction, discover how you got here, and develop a more desirable and sustainable way of life. I believe that my role is to be a nonjudgmental companion to you on your unique journey of self-discovery and profound change.

My background is in existential and humanistic therapy aiding the client to increase self-awareness while developing acceptance, growth, responsibility, and freedom. I am trained in eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) interventions. My therapeutic style is compassionate and free from judgment. I focus on growing a positive partnership to help you acquire the tools to resolve problems.

I strongly believe in your inherent ability to grow and change-- to survive neglect, hardship, and trauma and become stronger and more resilient. I help people find their strengths and learn to accept and even love their vulnerabilities. I teach coping skills and I listen intently.

**I have a limited number of in-person and telehealth sessions available. Please contact me to see if I am a good match and our schedules align.** My initial goal in therapy is to deeply understand the unique individual sitting across from me. I take a holistic approach to this task. I understand that the mind, body, spirit, and relationships are all connected and impacted by one another. I think of my clients as more than just a collection of problems and diagnoses. I want to understand your strengths and talents as well as your struggles and areas for growth. I also want to understand where you have come from and where you would like to go. As we better understand how your life story impacts your current feelings, motivations, and relationships, you will likely experience increased self-acceptance and the ability to make to make better decisions about your future. Intellectual insight alone, although useful, is often not enough to allow clients to fully make the kinds of life changes that they desire. Consequently, I also utilize methods from more action-oriented approaches to therapy that focus on obtaining new skills and practicing new behaviors. These skills are often focused on learning new ways of managing difficult feelings and improving communication and intimacy in relationships. I believe that a therapist and client should work together as a team. I will bring my energy, experience, and compassion to the therapeutic relationship. I ask you for openness, honesty, curiosity, and a willingness to experiment with new ways of thinking, feeling, and behaving. My goal is to work with you to help you achieve a greater sense of happiness, peace, integrity, and satisfaction in your life.

Life can present you with difficult situations which are hard to process and move past. These challenges are not on your timeline and affect everything. Having worked in many healthcare settings, I am familiar navigating life-changing events and grief. I understand the territory of encountering loss, coping with trauma, the complexity of the medical system and living with illness. Together we will face any changes, fears, anxiety and emotions you are experiencing, allowing you to gain more grounding and peace. I will work with you from an integrative, holistic approach to determine together what is needed for your coping, healing and self-care.

People - like plants - don't thrive in less than optimal conditions. However people - unlike plants - have the ability to improve the conditions in which they exist and give themselves the gift of positive and exuberant growth. Is your growth as an individual being limited by ~ anxieties & fears ~ lack of direction ~ depression ~ past trauma ~ poor self image ~ relationship issues Any one of the above can make you feel stuck and uncertain. Growth oriented psychotherapy will help you rediscover your purpose and direction. My task is to guide you as you identify your goals and the resources you'll need to achieve them. My belief is that most of these resources already exist within you or are readily accessible to you.