Meet Susan

Why I Do This Work

I became a therapist because I know what it's like to feel lost in your own story. To carry things you didn't choose and wonder if you'll ever feel like yourself again. I didn't arrive at this career through a straight line — I got here because life taught me, sometimes roughly, that healing is possible and that nobody should have to figure it out alone.

Before I became a counselor, I spent years working through my own experiences with loss, identity, and what it means to rebuild when the ground shifts under you. That process changed everything for me. It showed me that therapy isn't about fixing what's broken — it's about uncovering what was always there beneath the pain, the coping mechanisms, and the stories you were told about who you should be.

That conviction is what drives my practice today. I don't believe in one-size-fits-all approaches or clinical detachment. I believe in showing up fully, being honest, and walking alongside you while you do the bravest work of your life.

My Credentials

I'm a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in the state of Florida. My training and certifications include:

• EMDR Specialist — advanced training in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, one of the most effective treatments for trauma and PTSD
• Expressive Arts Therapy — advanced training in using creative modalities (art, movement, writing) as therapeutic tools
• Somatic and Body-Based Approaches — integrating the body into the healing process, because trauma doesn't live only in the mind
• Attachment-Focused Therapy — specialized work with adoptees, foster care alumni, and anyone navigating complex relational patterns
• Grief and Loss Specialization — supporting clients through all forms of loss, including disenfranchised grief that the world doesn't always recognize

I stay current through ongoing continuing education and consultation with peers. Therapy is a field that evolves, and I evolve with it. My clients deserve a therapist who never stops learning.

Who I Am Outside the Office

I'm a real person with a real life, and I think that matters. I live in Orlando. I love being outdoors, getting lost in a good book, and spending time with the people who matter most to me. I believe in the power of creativity, which is why expressive arts are woven into my work — not because I think everyone needs to pick up a paintbrush, but because I've seen what happens when people find ways to express what words can't reach.

I'm direct. I'll be honest with you, gently but clearly, because I think you deserve that. I'm also warm, sometimes funny, and always in your corner. Therapy with me doesn't feel like sitting across from a blank-faced professional with a clipboard. It feels like a real conversation with someone who genuinely cares about where you're headed.

How I Work With Clients

My approach is collaborative, not prescriptive. I'm not going to tell you what to do or hand you a worksheet and call it therapy. Instead, we'll work together to understand what's happening for you, where it comes from, and what needs to shift so you can move forward.

I draw from multiple evidence-based modalities depending on what you need. That might include EMDR to process traumatic memories, expressive arts to access emotions that are hard to verbalize, somatic techniques to reconnect you with your body, or good old-fashioned talk therapy when that's what the moment calls for.

What stays constant is the relationship. Research consistently shows that the single most important factor in effective therapy is the connection between therapist and client. I take that seriously. I'll meet you where you are, challenge you when you're ready, and celebrate with you when something clicks.

I specialize in working with people who are navigating trauma, grief, identity and attachment, and major life transitions. But at the core, I work with anyone who is ready to stop surviving and start becoming.

If any of this resonates, I'd love to talk. Schedule a free 15-minute consultation and let's see if we're a good fit.