Susan Walker

Hello! I am so glad you are here and look forward to getting to know you and your goals for therapy. I am a licensed mental health counselor with over 15 years of clinical experience. My interpersonal style is warm, empathetic, and professional. I am highly interested and engaged with the process of understanding and helping. Below is a bit about my background: Therapy Approach: My clinical and interpersonal style is warm, casual, empathetic, and always professional. My overarching approach tends to transcend theory and embrace the foundational skills of active listening, gentle redirecting, validation, and staying connected while confronting issues that need attention. I tend to think holistically and spiritually. Theoretical applications I use include Person-Centered, some aspects of Cognitive Behavioral, and Psychodynamic, as each client is multi- layered and more than one theory or technique may be useful. Primarily my theoretical lens is Existential, grounded in the idea that we as human beings are faced with making meaning of our environment, understanding ourselves, and the realization that we can direct our lives. There is challenge in this but also great freedom. Technical Options: I am potentially a good match for those who are interested in Live Chat Typing Sessions or Phone Sessions. When I discovered that Video sessions were causing some eye strain and switched to Live Chat Typing Sessions and Phone Sessions I was pleasantly surprised that the richness and texture of therapy was not reduced. In some ways there is even more connection and clarity. Areas of Clinical Specialty include but aren’t limited to the following: Grief/Bereavement Pregnancy Loss/Infant Loss Anxiety Social Anxiety Depression Spiritual Issues Life Transitions Career and Professional Concerns Trauma History Chronic Illness Sexuality issues Parenting Issues It is often in high pitched pain or struggle that one finds her/his/theirself seeking therapy. I am sensitive to this process and strive always to create a comfortable, relaxed therapeutic space. My experience includes providing therapy to those with trauma histories at a residential facility, counseling college students with issues of identity, sexuality, and life transitions at a university counseling center, and several years providing therapy to those with anxiety/depression, grief/bereavement, and other issues of clinical concern at an outpatient mental health clinic. I consider it a privilege to help clients from all backgrounds from their place of difficulty to a healthy realization of their goals. Professional Training: U-Mass at Amherst B.A in Sociology with minor in Psychology Lesley University M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Clinical License LMHC