Licensed to practice in Pennsylvania and accepts 13 insurances. Specializes in Addiction, Anxiety, Depression and 9 more.

Susan Shipley, Ph.D.

(she/her)

LP, 28 years of experience
Open-minded
Solution oriented
Authentic
VirtualAvailable

About me

In Therapy we work as a team. You will feel yourself grow toward living your life free of intrusive thinking . I’m a clinical psychologist working with kids and adults. I respect my clients unique experiences and goals. I will provide compassionate counseling and keen observation, while we work in collaboration by finding solutions to challenges blocking you from living your life fully. You’ll move on from baffling situations, negative relationships, and ineffective coping. In the process, you'll learn to use therapy tools to overcome what maybe holding you back from experiencing your goals. My clients often have challenges such as anxiety, depression, and grief. I've experiences working with people bothered by anxiety, anorexia, phobias, panic attacks, OCD behavior, and intrusive thoughts. Addiction and recovery are areas of my expertise. I'm a school psychologist who knows about learning disabilities, ADHD, autism, developmental delays, affect of education. Occasionally life challenges meet us at a particularly vulnerable time, and I work with people to adjust to life’s changes: grief, job loss, and alcohol and drug dependents and their family. I'm an artist and a trained art therapist. I found, art making often speaks with more feeling and force than words alone. We will incorporate art if you choose. CBT works in a collaborative manner between the therapist and the client. Together, we can identify what's not working and get you back to balance. We'll use a whole self-approach, addressing your needs. I also integrate mindfulness and art to help you develop a stronger relationship with others and most importantly yourself. You have found a safe space to heal and grow. In our sessions together, I'll meet you with compassion and evidence-based techniques so you can overcome the hangups and habits holding you back. Let's work together!

Get to know me

In our first session together, here's what you can expect

During your first session, we will get to know one another and freely talk about anything that concerns you. It is also an important time to see if we make a good team. During the course of therapy we’ll work as a strong team and find the best solutions to your present day concerns and those problems you’ve encountered from the past that can reemerge in the present. During that initial meeting, we begin to address feelings, thoughts and/or bothersome behavior. Therapy is most effective when it’s collaborative.

The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions

As the adult client, you lead the initial discussion. I listen to your concern and together we work through any hang-ups, ineffective coping or ineffective habits . In therapy we analyze behavior patterns. Through Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and the tools of Dialectic Behavior therapy, you'll experience growth, gain strength , resilience, work on feelings of loss and helplessness. Mindfulness and empowering approaches will help you experience calm, and unleash your creativity. Our important work during therapy will broaden your understand of yourself, boost greater self-confidence and enhance your goal to feel loved and gain a sense of belong. A therapy goal is empowerment because you’ll be moving forward.

The clients I'm best positioned to serve

I have earned a Ph.D in clinical psychology license, which demonstrate my therapy credentials, employ high standards and adhere to a strict ethical code of practice. I am committed to help you achieve your dreams through therapy. I work with people struggling with job loss, assist parents with children, help those with blocked creativity, assist people navigate through grief and loss. Together we will work overcoming obsessive-compulsive tendencies, guide people to get over dependence on others or things such as addictions. Together we can address your eating disorders, fears and phobias. I’ve help many reach success when caught in the grips of alcohol, drugs, gambling, codependence. Often my therapy orientation helps people deal with depression and anxiety that stem from trauma, relationship problems and those dealing with negative intrusive thoughts. I work well with clients unafraid to be challenged, if needed. Clients can expect empathy, insight and understanding in our therapeutic relationship.

Specialties

Top specialties

Other specialties

ADHD

Grief

Trauma and PTSD

Identifies as

Serves ages

Teenagers (13 to 17)

Licensed in

Location

Virtual

My treatment methods

Dialectical Behavior (DBT)

Like cognitive behavioral therapy, DBT also focuses on thoughts, behaviors and feelings through the dialogue between client and therapist. The word dialectic means alternatives thoughts and proofs that the negative intrusive thought is not true, but a remnant of childhood. The dialectic alternative thought can be the opposite way of thinking to the negative thought and a means of chipping away at the power such intrusive thoughts can hold. For instance when a reoccurring troubling thought seems to continually intrude on your life, you’ll learn how to address it with the tools of DBT.

Solution Focused Brief Treatment

When life gets chaotic and unmanageable we will work through your concerns and seek out possible solutions to those unmanageable problems. Often it is an accessible solution.

Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)

Both CBT and DBT have proven effective at reducing the compulsions and depressive thoughts associated with addiction.

Mindfulness-Based Therapy

Mindfulness is a core practice in DBT and this effective strategy has been proven effective with eating disorders anorexia and bulimia.

Play Therapy

Play therapy in my practice is art therapy . The client with the therapist analysis their art product, the process of doing the art and often communicate through the art like play expression. Having worked many years with children in school settings, I have unique insight in learning differences and achievement expectations.

, 37 ratings

2 ratings with written reviews

March 17, 2026

Susan gave me the courage to review with my husband ways that he can take some of the pressure off me at home.

Verified client, age 65+
Review shared after session 1 with Susan

February 5, 2025

Very understanding and easy to talk to.

Verified client, age 25-34
Review shared after session 1 with Susan