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.

My approach to grief therapy honors the unique experience of each person and acknowledges there is no timeline for grief. We will begin wherever you are. You deserve a space dedicated to you where you can grieve fully. Grief is a natural response to death and demands care, time, and attention.

I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (#133552) and Certified Grief Educator offering individual therapy and couples therapy in Pasadena, California and online. Other specialties include trauma resilience, psychodynamic therapy, somatic psychology, couples therapy, and mindfulness-based therapy.

What is a Certified Grief Educator?

A Certified Grief Educator is committed to providing the highest level of grief support through education, experience, and insights into the often unacknowledged rocky terrain of grief.

Certified Grief Educators completed a certificate program designed by world-renowned grief expert, David Kessler. They bring his unique methodology, tools, and decades of experience to help people navigate the challenges of grief.

I am a clinical psychologist in Southern California. I provide psychotherapy and support for those experiencing major like transitions, identity growth (LGBTQIA+) and families becoming aware of a loved one’s new identity.  I support people in grief, with anxiety and other struggles of living in our modern world. I have been a licensed psychologist since 2009.

Grief Groups

Individual and Couples Therapy

Career Counseling

LGBTQ+ Affirmative

Mindfulness and Guided Meditation

Short and Long Term Therapy or Coaching

Speaking Engagements

Consulting

Provide counseling to children, teenagers, adults. Services are individual counseling, marriage counseling and family counseling. Specializes in grief and trauma counseling. Offers DBT techniques, trauma informed counseling and EMDR.