Susana Macias
Hello and Welcome! I am Susana Macias, LCSW. I have been in the field since 2017, and I have worked with individuals and families of different backgrounds, including children 0-5, teen parents, survivors of domestic violence, and immigrants. I specialize in perinatal mental health, abandonment, depression, life transitions, family conflicts, parenting challenges, and self-esteem. I strive to support individuals in developing their awareness and self-understanding by providing a warm and collaborative space for individuals to develop their thoughts and feelings, process difficult emotions, heal, and to be their authentic selves.
First session
In our first session, the goal is to get to know each other. If you have any questions at all that you'd like to ask, ask away. Many people I have worked with share this is their first experience in therapy and report feeling anxiety with their first session. The emotions are valid and very much normal. As with anything in life, uncertainty triggers anxiety. I will ask questions as means of understanding what bring you into therapy, your background, and your goals for therapy. I encourage you to share what you feel comfortable sharing, and do not feel pressured to share things you are not ready to share.
Strengths
I encourage you to show up as your true, authentic self, and don't worry about trying to censor or change who you are! I hope to create a space for you that feels safe, inviting, and warm. My hope is that you are able to trust me with feeling and expressing any and all of your emotions freely and truly as they appear in session.
Ideal clients
My ideal client is 12 years old and older seeking individual therapy for: anxiety, depression, family conflicts, life transitions, parenting challenges, self-esteem struggles, ADHD, or perinatal mental health. I seek to help individuals and families during challenging moments in life while empowering them by utilizing a person-centered and strengths-based approach. The overall goal we will work towards is providing you with the tools and skills you need to help you manage your struggles on your own.
Treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I will help you identify unhelpful thinking patterns (cognitive distortions) and change maladaptive behaviors. We will discuss how specific situations trigger emotional and behavioral reactions. Then we will work on identifying and reframing any negative thoughts along with changing unhealthy behaviors.
Person-centered (Rogerian)
You are the expert of your life! I use this non-directive talk therapy approach where you lead the sessions. Instead of acting as an expert offering direct advice, I create a safe, nonjudgmental environment and use three core attitudes—unconditional positive regard, empathy, and congruence—to empower you to discover your own solutions and achieve self-actualization.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
The main goal of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is to strike a balance between validation (acceptance) of who you are and your challenges and the benefits of change. I will help you learn new skills to improve emotion regulation.
Strength-Based
Strengths-based therapy shifts the focus from fixing what is "wrong" to building on what is "strong." Instead of concentrating solely on symptoms or deficits, I will help you identify, amplify, and apply your innate resilience, coping skills, and personal talents to overcome challenges and achieve your goals.
Trauma-Informed Care
Trauma informed care prioritizes physical and emotional safety, builds trust, and empowers the client. Rather than asking "what is wrong with you," trauma informed care asks: "what happened to you". This form for therapy also seeks to understand how past experiences shape present behavior.
Location
Virtual sessions
Identifies as
Top specialties
Other specialties
Doesn't specialize in
Licensed in
- CaliforniaLicense 121243