LCSW, 3 years of experience
New to Grow
I'm Susan Sealy, a Behavioral Health and Substance Use Clinician passionate about helping people find relief from stress, heal from trauma, and build lives they feel good about. I work with clients facing mental health concerns such as PTSD, anxiety, depression, trauma, life transitions, and mood disorders, as well as those seeking support with substance use and recovery. I offer a safe, nonjudgmental, and supportive space where clients can explore challenges, feel truly heard, and learn practical skills to build resilience, restore balance, and create lasting change. My services are offered virtually, so care is accessible and convenient wherever you are. I believe every person can grow and heal, and my role is to support that process with empathy, reflection, and evidence-based interventions.
Your first session is designed to help you feel comfortable, heard, and supported from the very beginning. We will take time to talk about what brings you to counseling, your personal history, and what you hope to achieve. I create a safe, nonjudgmental, and welcoming space where you can openly explore your thoughts and feelings while knowing you are supported. During this session, we will also begin identifying your goals and discussing what positive change and success might look like for you. Together, we'll create a starting plan that feels realistic, hopeful. and tailored to your needs- highlighting tools you can begin using right away. My goal is for you to leave your first session feeling encouraged, understood, and confident that progress is possible. I want you to walk away with a sense of direction and hope, and to look forward to returning as we continue building on your growth together.
What stands out most about my therapeutic approach is the combination of compassion, collaboration, and practical guidance I bring to every session. I believe that therapy should feel both safe and empowering- a space where you can talk openly, feel understood, and begin building real change. My approach helps clients explore the connection between their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, allowing them to gain clarity and a deeper understanding of themselves. I use a balance of reflection and skill-building, helping clients identify patterns that may be holding them back while introducing effective tools to manage stress, regulate emotions, and strengthen coping strategies. In our work together, we might practice mindfulness to stay grounded, reframe negative thinking, or develop actionable steps toward personal goals. I adapt the process to each person's needs, ensuring that therapy moves at a pace that feels comfortable yet purposeful. Over time, clients often notice a greater sense of confidence, emotional balance, and the ability to respond to challenges with calm and clarity. My goal is for every client to leave sessions not only feeling heard and supported, but also equipped with insight and skills they can carry into their daily lives.
My ideal clients are adults and adolescents who are feeling emotionally drained, overwhelmed, or stuck in patterns that no longer serve them. Many struggle with PTSD, anxiety, depression, or mood disorders, and are seeking a way to manage intense emotions, quiet their minds, and feel more balanced in their daily lives. They may be coping with past trauma, navigating difficult relationships, or facing ongoing stress that makes it hard to focus or find motivation. Some may also be working to reduce or better understand their substance use as part of improving their overall well-being. My clients often come to therapy wanting to feel grounded, confident, and connected to themselves and others. They're ready to explore what's holding them back, learn healthy coping skills, and develop practical tools for managing life's challenges. Above all, they want to find hope and create lasting change in a supportive, safe, and nonjudgmental space where they can heal at their own pace.
I use ACT to help clients build psychological flexibility by learning to accept difficult emotions and thoughts instead of struggling against them. Through mindfulness and values-based work, I support clients in focusing on what truly matters to them and taking meaningful actions toward their goals, even in the presence of discomfort.
With CBT, I help clients identify and challenge unhelpful thought patterns that influence their emotions and behaviors. Together, we explore new ways of thinking and coping to promote positive behavioral change, emotional regulation, and improved self-esteem. This approach empowers clients to recognize the connection between their thoughts, feelings, and actions.
I use Motivational Interviewing to help clients explore their ambivalence about change and strengthen their intrinsic motivation to make positive choices. Through collaboration, empathy, reflective listening, I help clients discover their own reasons for change and build confidence in their ability to achieve it.
Incorporating DBT skills, I teach clients practical tools for managing intense emotions, improving relationships, and increasing distress tolerance. We focus on mindfulness, emotional regulation, interpersonal effectiveness, and grounding techniques to promote balance and stability in daily life.
I approach all treatment through a trauma-informed lens, recognizing the impact that past trauma and adversity can have on a person's current thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. My empowering focus is on creating a safe, collaborative, and empowering environment where clients can build trust, develop coping skills, and move toward healing without re-traumatization.