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
Additional areas of focus: LGBT, Relationship issues, Family conflicts, Trauma and abuse, Self esteem, Career difficulties, Compassion fatigue, Aging and geriatric issues, Cancer, Caregiver issues and stress, Chronic pain, illness, and disability, Coping with natural or human-caused disaster, Emptiness, Family of origin issues, Family problems, Fertility issues, First responder issues, Forgiveness, Gender dysphoria, Guilt and shame, Hospice and end-of-life counseling, Isolation / loneliness, Life purpose, Midlife crisis, Veteran and Armed Forces Issues, Multicultural concerns, Panic disorder and panic attacks, Postpartum depression, Post-traumatic stress, Pregnancy and childbirth, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), Self-love, Sexuality, Social anxiety and phobia, Visually impaired, Women's issues, Workplace issues, Young adult issues
Clinical approaches: Client-Centered Therapy, Existential Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy
MA LMHC 4680
These quotes represent just a few of the many positive reviews that we have received for Susan Walker. We don't pay anyone to provide their review and they are all made voluntarily. Some people's experience receiving therapy with BetterHelp might be different.
I have been on Better Help for almost 3 years, it has helped me so much. My therapist, Susan Walker, has participated greatly in my healing process. I was in crisis when I started, I am now a much more grounded person who is able to support herself through life. I started with Better Help because I was in crisis, and I did not want to wait several weeks to start therapy while looking for a therapist. Calling offices and making appointments take a while! I thought I would give a shot to Better Help while looking for a therapist I could meet in real life. I decided to stick with Susan as we were a good fit. Better Help is a great tool as the onboarding questionnaires is very precise and matches you to someone who shares your values and is specialized in the areas you want to work on. This is much easier than trying to find someone out of nowhere.
Written on Dec 21, 2024 after therapy with Susan for 2 years and 6 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, intimacy-related issues, eating disorders, sleeping disorders, and self esteem
Susan, showed immediate care and curiosity of where I needed help. The sessions were always helpful and insightful. I would highly recommend spending time with Susan!
Written on Nov 11, 2024 after therapy with Susan for 1 month on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, intimacy-related issues, and adhd
Susan is a good listener. She walks through and with my concerns. She helps make clear my concerns by supporting me.
I am happy with Susan. She is experienced and feels like I know her already which is really good. Thanks Susan !
Written on Nov 05, 2024 after therapy with Susan for 2 weeks on issues concerning stress, anxiety, relationship issues, parenting issues, and coping with life changes
my therapist and I work very well together. I I am grateful for her service
Written on Aug 20, 2024 after therapy with Susan for 2 weeks on issues concerning stress, anxiety, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, and parenting issues
Susan has been tremendous in helping me navigate difficult family situations. She is a wonderful listener with great insight. Her tone and manner is supportive. Highly recommend!
Written on Jul 24, 2023 after therapy with Susan for 1 month on issues concerning stress, anxiety, relationship issues, and family conflicts
Susan has been really really great to work with!
Written on Jan 20, 2023 after therapy with Susan for 2 weeks on issues concerning stress, anxiety, relationship issues, and anger management