Susan Arvidson
Hello, my name is Susan, and I am a therapist who is passionate about helping individuals understand themselves, and help them to move toward the lives they want to build. My approach is collaborative, and compassionate. I meet individuals where they are and work alongside them to create meaningful, effective change.
Hello, my name is Susan, and I am a therapist who is passionate about helping individuals understand themselves, and help them to move toward the lives they want to build.
At the core of my practice is a simple belief; individuals do better when they feel understood, supported, and empowered.
First session
Together, we will focus on identifying your challenges and goals - where you see yourself in a month, six months, a year from now. Then, we'll work together to identify steps in how to reach your goals. We will work on helping you to develop a better understanding of yourself through learning about your thought process, emotions, triggers, and actions or behaviors. Flexibility and accountability are part of the journey in learning to be the best person you can be and to be able to live a happy and fulfilling life.
Strengths
I strive to help individuals feel safe, and understood. I bring a calm, steady presence that helps the individual feel that they can be who they are. I have experience in seeing how thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and past experiences connect together.
Ideal clients
If you’re considering therapy with me, here’s the simplest way to know if we might be a good fit. I work best with people who are open to support—even if they’re not sure what they need yet. You don’t have to have the “right words,” a clear goal, or a polished story. You just need a sense that something in your life feels heavy, confusing, or stuck, and a willingness to explore it together at a pace that feels safe. I also work well with people who look not only for support but are curious about understanding themselves more deeply. You don’t need to have everything figured out—you just need a sense that something in your life, your relationships, or your internal world isn’t working the way you want it to, and you have a desire to make change for the better.
Origin story
Becoming a therapist allowed me to combine my desire to help people with my belief that everyone has strengths, resilience, and the capacity for growth. I am especially passionate about helping individuals navigate anxiety, depression, trauma, life transitions, and relationship challenges while recognizing their inherent worth and potential.
Ongoing work together
Clients often notice progress when they begin responding to life's challenges differently rather than feeling overwhelmed by them. Progress may look like reduced anxiety, improved mood, healthier relationships, increased self-awareness, stronger boundaries, better communication, or the ability to use coping skills more effectively during difficult situations.
Treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I’ve been using CBT in my practice for the past six years. It’s an evidence-based approach that helps challenge recurring thoughts and manage anxiety. One of the most effective ways that CBT can help you, is by focusing on how to recognize how your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors interact with one another. We’ll then use that knowledge to change your thinking patterns, which will help you lead a more relaxed and less stressful life.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
In my practice, I use Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) as a structured, evidence and skills-based approach that helps individuals learn to regulate intense emotions, and build healthier relationships. The main area's that we will focus on are mindfulness skills, interpersonal effectiveness skills, emotion regulation skills, and distress tolerance skills. We work together in learning how to change behavioral, emotional, thinking, and interpersonal conflicts connected with problems that you may be faced with on an everyday basis.
Mindfulness-Based Therapy
Mindfulness-based therapy is an important part of my practice because it helps clients develop greater awareness of their thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations without judgment. I incorporate mindfulness techniques to help individuals manage anxiety, depression, stress, trauma responses, and life transitions. Through practices such as grounding exercises, mindful breathing, body awareness, and present-moment observation, clients learn to respond to challenges with greater calm, clarity, and self-compassion.
Psychoeducation
Psychoeducation is a foundational part that I use in therapy to help give individuals knowledge that helps them understand themselves.
Solution-Focused Brief Treatment
In my practice, I use Solution-Focused Brief Therapy as a way to collaborate, empower, and give hope to individuals to help them move toward the future they want rather than staying stuck in what isn't working.
Location
Virtual sessions
Identifies as
Top specialties
Other specialties
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Licensed in
- MinnesotaLicense 4885