Individual Therapy

Couples Therapy

Addiction Counseling

Anger Management

Trauma Counseling

Individual therapy for clients in the state of California.

Grieving is part of the human experience.  If you are alive, you will deal with some form of grief or loss during your lifetime.  Grief can be so incredibly painful and isolating. It is love with no place to go.  There is no right or wrong way to grieve.  Grieving is unique to you but there are generally six accepted stages, which are denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance, and finding meaning.  Grief can be complicated and fresh loss can trigger old wounds.  If you find you need someone to share your pain, witness your loss, and help you navigate this complicated journey, I offer compassionate therapy for grief.

I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT44310) and a Certified Grief Educator offering individual, couples, and family therapy in Brea, CA and online throughout the state of California. I am also Certified in Dialectical Behavior Therapy to treat self-harm and suicidality.  In addition to grief counseling, my other specialties include trauma therapy, anxiety therapy, depression therapy, therapy for mothers, teen therapy, and therapy for parents of teens.

My name is Susan and I am a white, cisgender female (she/her), pansexual identified certified grief educator and licensed psychologist in California who has worked in mental health, social service, and educational settings for 35 years. My most profound death losses have been my father, daughter in-utero, dearest friend, sisters-in-law, and uncle.  My most significant life losses include my home and nearly all personal property in a wildfire, full use of my left arm and hand due to an accident, and being able-bodied due to chronic illness.

I have extensive training and experience in individual, couple, and group therapy, consultation, and supervision. As my healing journey includes working through my own grief and loss, eating disorder, and trauma issues, I continually feel honored to support and walk alongside others toward safely navigating these life challenges. My professional passions include community health, social justice, and the interface between psychology and religion. My personal passions include parenting teens, cooking, baking, gardening, dancing, reading, traveling, and playing Scrabble.

I offer in-person and telehealth individual, couple, and group consultation, assessment, and therapy for adults seeking identity affirming, trauma informed care. My therapeutic approach is integrative with an emphasis on developmentally appropriate and culturally informed interpersonal, existential, feminist, imaginal, and psychodynamic perspectives. Treatment modalities for 60, 75, and 90-minute sessions include talk therapy, expressive arts, mindfulness, somatic practices, and walking therapy toward safely and whole-heartedly facilitating healing and emotional stability, exploring psychological growth, inspiring change, and sustaining life goals.

I look forward to connecting if you feel we may be a good fit.