LCSW, 12 years of experience
Hello, I'm Susan. Are you feeling weighed down by depression, anxiety, or the stress of everyday life? Do you find it difficult to navigate through daily life while juggling various responsibilities? Are you yearning for a greater sense of well-being and self-compassion? I work alongside my clients to face life's challenges head on with confidence. Together, we can explore your goals and help you find your way back to a place of balance and inner harmony. Taking a comprehensive approach, we will address the unique needs of your mind, body, and spirit, recognizing that your well-being is multifaceted. In our sessions, I integrate cognitive-behavioral therapy, mindfulness practices, and solution-focused techniques, empowering you to build a stronger relationship with yourself and foster your own personal growth. Whether you're battling overwhelming emotions, navigating relationship difficulties, or trapped in cycles of anxiety and depression, I am here to provide the support you need. I understand that reaching out for therapy can feel daunting, but rest assured, you are making a courageous and transformative decision. You deserve a safe and non-judgmental space where you can heal, grow, and rediscover your true self. I look forward to working with you!
In our first session together, we will begin with introductions before diving into the specific challenges that brought you to seeking help. Together, we will work to identify your therapeutic goals. Toward the end of this session, I will often introduce several simple coping strategies that can be applied immediately to get you started.
Welcome and congratulations on taking this step in your mental health journey! I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a passion for helping others to achieve lasting progress towards personal goals. I have experience working with all ages and love to identify and expand on your strengths. Mental health treatment is not one size fits all, so I am flexible in using different approaches to benefit the individual.
I love working with adults of all ages who are seeking support in their mental health journey.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based approach that helps clients understand the connection between their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. By identifying unhelpful thinking patterns and testing new ways of thinking, CBT supports practical strategies to reduce distress and create meaningful change. In my practice, I use CBT to help clients recognize patterns that may be contributing to anxiety, depression, or other challenges, and to develop tools for managing them. Together, we work on building coping strategies, problem-solving skills, and healthier ways of thinking that empower you to navigate life with greater confidence and clarity.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a structured, evidence-based approach that helps clients manage intense emotions, improve relationships, and cope with stress more effectively. DBT combines practical skills training—like mindfulness, emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness—with a supportive, validating therapeutic relationship. In my practice, I use DBT to help clients develop tools for navigating overwhelming emotions and challenging situations. Together, we focus on building skills that increase emotional balance, improve communication, and foster healthier coping strategies, helping you create more stability and confidence in daily life.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an evidence-based therapy designed to help people heal from the emotional distress linked to difficult or traumatic experiences. EMDR works by using guided eye movements or other forms of bilateral stimulation to help the brain reprocess painful memories in a way that reduces their emotional charge. In my practice, I use EMDR to help clients safely explore and reframe past experiences that may still be influencing their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors today. Together, we focus on lessening the intensity of distressing memories while strengthening positive beliefs about yourself. EMDR can be a powerful tool for finding relief from trauma, anxiety, and negative self-beliefs, allowing you to move forward with greater resilience and confidence.
Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a collaborative, goal-oriented approach that helps people explore their own motivations for change. Rather than pushing or directing, MI is about asking open questions, listening with empathy, and helping you uncover your personal values and strengths. In my practice, I use MI to support clients who may feel ambivalent or stuck when facing changes in their lives. By working together in a nonjudgmental, supportive space, I help you clarify what matters most to you and build confidence in your ability to take meaningful steps toward growth and lasting change.
Strengths-based therapy focuses on identifying and building upon your unique abilities, resources, and resilience rather than only concentrating on problems or deficits. It’s about recognizing the skills and strengths you already have and using them as tools for healing and growth. In my practice, I use a strengths-based approach to help clients see themselves in a more empowered light. Together, we highlight what’s working well, amplify your natural resilience, and use your strengths as a foundation for overcoming challenges and creating lasting change.
2 ratings with written reviews
May 19, 2025
Dr. Nelson listens! She provides positive and helpful feedback all the while empowering you to be able to cope with situations. I have learned many things about myself through her observations that I did not realize. I LOVE art, my family, my dogs and nature. I initially sought help for my father's sudden death, but Dr. Nelson has provided therapy for many areas of my life.
May 5, 2025
Susan, you have changed my life and thank you will never suffice. You know how highly that I regard you. Chad does, also. I wanted to pick every answer above. The platform doesn't allow for that.