Hello! I am so glad you are here and look forward to getting to know you and your goals for therapy. I am a licensed mental health counselor with over 15 years of clinical experience. My interpersonal style is warm, empathetic, and professional. I am highly interested and engaged with the process of understanding and helping. Below is a bit about my background:
Therapy Approach:
My clinical and interpersonal style is warm, casual, empathetic, and always professional. My overarching approach tends to transcend theory and embrace the foundational skills of active listening, gentle redirecting, validation, and staying connected while confronting issues that need attention. I tend to think holistically and spiritually. Theoretical applications I use include Person-Centered, some aspects of Cognitive Behavioral, and Psychodynamic, as each client is multi- layered and more than one theory or technique may be useful. Primarily my theoretical lens is Existential, grounded in the idea that we as human beings are faced with making meaning of our environment, understanding ourselves, and the realization that we can direct our lives. There is challenge in this but also great freedom.
Technical Options:
I am potentially a good match for those who are interested in Live Chat Typing Sessions or Phone Sessions. When I discovered that Video sessions were causing some eye strain and switched to Live Chat Typing Sessions and Phone Sessions I was pleasantly surprised that the richness and texture of therapy was not reduced. In some ways there is even more connection and clarity.
Areas of Clinical Specialty include but aren't limited to the following:
Grief/Bereavement
Pregnancy Loss/Infant Loss
Anxiety
Social Anxiety
Depression
Spiritual Issues
Life Transitions
Career and Professional Concerns
Trauma History
Chronic Illness
Sexuality issues
Parenting Issues
It is often in high pitched pain or struggle that one finds her/his/theirself seeking therapy. I am sensitive to this process and strive always to create a comfortable, relaxed therapeutic space.
My experience includes providing therapy to those with trauma histories at a residential facility, counseling college students with issues of identity, sexuality, and life transitions at a university counseling center, and several years providing therapy to those with anxiety/depression, grief/bereavement, and other issues of clinical concern at an outpatient mental health clinic. I consider it a privilege to help clients from all backgrounds from their place of difficulty to a healthy realization of their goals.
Professional Training:
U-Mass at Amherst B.A in Sociology with minor in Psychology
Lesley University M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Clinical License LMHC
Additional areas of focus: LGBT, Relationship issues, Family conflicts, Trauma and abuse, Self esteem, Career difficulties, Compassion fatigue, Aging and Geriatric Issues, Cancer, Caregiver issues and stress, Chronic pain illness and disability, Coping with Natural or Human-Caused Disaster, Emptiness, Family of Origin Issues, Family Problems, Fertility Issues, First Responder Issues, Forgiveness, Gender Dysphoria, Guilt and shame, Hospice and End of Life Counseling, Isolation / loneliness, Life purpose, Midlife crisis, Military and Veterans Issues, Multicultural Concerns, Panic disorder and panic attacks, Postpartum Depression, Post-traumatic stress, Pregnancy and childbirth, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), Self-love, Sexuality, Social anxiety and phobia, Visually Impaired, Women's issues, Workplace issues, Young Adult Issues
Clinical approaches: Client-Centered Therapy, Existential Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy
MA LMHC 4680
These quotes represent just a few of the many positive reviews that we have received for Susan Walker. We don't pay anyone to provide their review and they are all made voluntarily. Some people's experience receiving therapy with BetterHelp might be different.
Susan has been tremendous in helping me navigate difficult family situations. She is a wonderful listener with great insight. Her tone and manner is supportive. Highly recommend!
Written on Jul 24, 2023 after therapy with Susan for 1 month on issues concerning stress, anxiety, relationship issues, and family conflicts
Susan has been really really great to work with!
Written on Jan 20, 2023 after therapy with Susan for 2 weeks on issues concerning stress, anxiety, relationship issues, and anger management
I have enjoyed my sessions with Susan.
Written on Dec 14, 2022 after therapy with Susan for 1 month on issues concerning stress, anxiety
Excellent therapist know nd and knowledgeable!
Written on Nov 06, 2022 after therapy with Susan for 3 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, addictions, relationship issues, intimacy-related issues, coping with life changes, and compassion fatigue
Susan is wonderful to work with. She is kind, empathetic, listens well and knows how to ask questions that help you see multiple perspectives of the issue.
Written on Oct 11, 2022 after therapy with Susan for 4 months on issues concerning depression, and intimacy-related issues
In just a few sessions, Susan was able to help me clarify the underlying cause of my anxiety and provide solutions to alleviate it. She is a great listener and if I ever need additional therapy I will not hesitate to use Susan again!
Written on Sep 18, 2022 after therapy with Susan for 3 weeks on issues concerning parenting issues, and coping with life changes