Hello, I am a licensed clinical mental health counselor with a doctorate in clinical psychology. I received my master's in counseling and a master's in psychology from Walden University. I also received a PhD in clinical psychology from Walden University. I am also a retired teacher and principal and decided to return to school to become a psychologist. I specialize in anxiety disorders and depression. I enjoy helping adults of all ages become a better version of themselves.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
In our first session, we start with getting to know you and what brings you to therapy. We can explore any gains and achievements you hope to make during our time together. We will then work on a tailored plan that helps us determine what we will accomplish in each session. Sometimes, however, we may spend the session de-escalating intense emotions and engaging in some calming techniques.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
Having worked with a variety of ages and mental health issues throughout my career, I find my greatest strength is active listening and problem-solving skills. As a former educator, I enjoy career counseling and helping people connect to employment and educational choices that provide fulfilling career choices. When it comes to anxiety disorders, I have many coping skills and techniques to help de-escalate intense emotional responses to stressors.
About Dr. Susan McInvale
Appointments
Virtual
My treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I help patients gain awareness of unhelpful thoughts and their impact on emotions. CBT therapy helps you learn how to better manage stressful life situations. You will learn to practice positive self-talk and boost confidence. Developing healthy coping skills to recognize and replace automatic negative thoughts is a technique I use in CBT. Additionally, I help you recognize cognitive distortions that create faulty thinking patterns that can decrease self-esteem and fuel depression and anxiety. I am here for you on this journey of positive growth and improved confidence and self-esteem.
Existential
Existential therapy helps you develop a better understanding of how you fit into the world around you. Life problems, troubles, and questions may be difficult to find answers to, but when we explore these issues together, you may find the solutions you are looking for. Existential therapy focuses on free will, self-determination, and the search for meaning. I encourage patients to focus on life-enhancing experiences like relationships, love, caring, commitment, courage, creativity, power, will, spirituality, and acceptance. My role as your therapist is to foster personal responsibility for making decisions. I use empathy and support to elicit insight and choices.
Grief Therapy
Grieving is recognized as both a process and a state. Grief counseling contains several goals: to increase the reality of loss, help my patient deal with emotional and behavioral pain, support you as you overcome obstacles to readjustment, and help you find a way to maintain a bond while feeling comfortable reinvesting in life.
