My name is Susan Madson, I am a LCSW. I specialize in depression, anxiety, anger issues, identifying coping skills, build relationship skills, identify client strengths, increase self care tools, build self esteem, teach meditations skills, grounding, breathing exercises, and relaxation techniques. I help to reduce trauma symptoms by helping clients to learn self regulation skills. I encourage client to participate in homework assignments to build skills to stabilize a clients emotional and behavioral functioning. Further, specialties include addiction issues, grief work and couples therapy. My most common therapy techniques that I use first is client centered therapy approach. I start where the client is most comfortable and work on building a safe environment for the client. My first goal is to build a therapeutic relationship with my client. Then my goal is to work with strength based, cognitive behavioral therapy, DBT, solutions focused, interpersonal therapy, narrative therapy, and mindfulness therapy techniques. I use an eclectic approach as each client is different and has different needs. My goal is to help the client's to identify the fact that sometimes therapy is identifying the small steps that client is making towards their treatment goals.

What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?

My first session with you we will work on getting to know each other. I will ask questions regarding past history of mental health symptoms and treatment. Help the client identify support people, start to identify strengths, identify treatment goals, and work on helping the client to feel safe in working with me as a therapist.

Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.

My past experience with mental health and substance abuse challenges has helped me to connect with client's. It motivates me in wanting to help others to build the skills necessary to improve their quality of life. The goal in working with client's is to break down client goals so that the client is able to work on goals with small steps which the client feels are attainable. The main focus of goal setting is to start where the client is most comfortable.

About Susan Madson