I am a fairly straightforward person who is not good at "therapist talk". I am more of a down to earth person wanting to form a solid and trusting relatioship with my clients. I enjoy working with adolescents, young adults, adults as well as children. I am a person (and a therapist!) who believes in strong relationships based on trust. I may take a bit longer to get to know you and understand you. Taking time for this is the basis for all relationships I believe. I am open to your experiences and your story, there is not much I have not heard. I have worked with grief, depression, anxiety, abuse and trauma. This is my second career, I come with LOTS of life experiences and a great passion for this work.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
In our first session together, we'll start with brief introductions, then dive into the specific challenges you're facing. This will help me create a tailored plan for us to work through in follow-up sessions. I believe that I need to hear your story and actively listen to you. I want to see if we are a good fit together and how we can move forward as a team. If you do not feel we are a good fit, then you tell me and I can refer you on. I want you to have the best experience you can.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
I am a bit different as a therapist, I want you to feel completely comfortable with me, and I with you. I believe that this takes time and I want to use that time wisely. If it takes more time for that to develop, then I need you to have that. I want you to be able to share with me if you are feeling anxious or any big or small feelings with me. I want an open door to healing. I also want to learn from you and your experiences, as they allow me to grow with you.
About Susan Alonso
Specializes in
Licensed in
Accepts
Address
112 West 9th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90015, Suite 825Appointments
Virtual & in-personMy treatment methods
Attachment-based
I believe that attachment is one of the most primal bonds we have. Reaching people through understanding their type of attachment has always worked well for my clients. The attachment between counselor and client is one of the most precious and delicate. It must be preserved at all costs. Attachment is formed during childhood, there are attachment styles, and attachment injuries. These injuries can be healed with time and therapy. Childhood traumas can result in attachment injuries which can carry on into adulthood. Being able to work with these injuries can result in better relationships as adults.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Changing your mindset ca be hard. CBT helps with this and can be a really interesting experience for both of us. Sometimes homework is assigned to clients to better their understanding of whatever is bothering them.
Family Therapy
Family therapy can be a very scary thought in the beginning. I have found that families who engage in this come out stronger and more attached. It is a therapy that needs to be approached slowly and with great compassion, as families are so different and can splinter in so many ways. If you are willing to put in the work, this can be a wonderful thing!
Grief Therapy
At some level, all therapy is grief therapy. Life changing situations, divorce, loss of job, children leaving home, changes of any sort tend to leave behind grief footprints.