About

Hello, my name is Susan and I am a licensed professional counselor and board-approved counselor supervisor practicing in the State of Texas. I have over 25 years of experience working with individuals experiencing depression, anxiety, relationship concerns, substance abuse, grief, and trauma. I worked for five years as the director of an employee assistance program providing training, consultation, brief counseling, and crisis intervention services. I served as the director of an adult outpatient substance abuse treatment program within the same agency for an additional five years. I joined with a colleague in 1994 to submit grants to a state agency to open a six-bed medical detox program for adults. The initial six-bed detox program grew into a non-profit agency with over 80 employees and 12 programs providing substance abuse prevention, intervention, and treatment services for adults and adolescents. I served as the clinical director for that organization for 12 years and as the executive director for 10 years. I left that organization in 2016 to pursue a doctorate in counselor education, and I anticipate completing the doctorate in the Fall of 2020.

My approach to counseling is client-centered and strengths-based. I believe a supportive therapeutic relationship is important for developing trust, respect, and a safe environment for the counseling process. I focus on strengths and resources during the counseling process to help individuals develop clarity and a positive approach to making choices that lead to personal growth. I believe it is important to embrace what is going well in individuals' lives as well as addressing their concerns. This enhances the ability of individuals to develop the tools and skills needed to create a more harmonious and balanced life.