Susan OBrien

I believe therapy should provide a safe, supportive space where clients can feel understood while developing the tools they need to move forward. My clinical approach is compassionate, direct, and individualized to each person's needs.

I have extensive experience working with individuals facing trauma, crisis, major life transitions, and complex behavioral and mental health concerns. Throughout my career, I have worked with diverse and often challenging populations, including survivors of human trafficking, individuals involved in the criminal justice system, sex offenders, and clients experiencing personality disorders and other complex mental health conditions. I also enjoy helping individuals who may simply feel stuck or are navigating significant transitions in their personal or professional lives.

My therapeutic approach incorporates Brainspotting, a trauma-focused therapy designed to help clients process difficult or unresolved experiences, as well as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and my extensive background in crisis counseling and intervention. I tailor treatment to the individual rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all approach.

Whether you are working through trauma, managing difficult emotions or relationships, facing a crisis, or entering a new chapter in your life, my goal is to help you better understand yourself, build on your strengths, and create meaningful and lasting change.

My approach to therapy is direct, compassionate, collaborative, and nonjudgmental. I believe every client brings a unique history, set of strengths, and life experiences into therapy, so I tailor my approach to the individual rather than expecting the individual to fit into a particular therapeutic model.

I specialize in working with trauma, crisis, complex mental health concerns, personality disorders, and major life transitions. I am comfortable working with clients who have complicated histories or who may have struggled to find a therapist who understands their experiences without judgment. My background includes working with individuals involved in the criminal justice system, individuals with sexual offending histories, and clients experiencing significant emotional or behavioral challenges.

Depending on the client's needs, I incorporate Brainspotting, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), trauma-informed approaches, and crisis intervention techniques. I also place a strong emphasis on helping clients recognize patterns, develop healthier coping strategies, increase self-awareness, and build on the strengths they already possess.

Clients can expect me to be supportive and empathetic while also being willing to challenge them when appropriate. My goal is to create a therapeutic relationship where clients feel safe enough to be authentic, explore difficult experiences, and make meaningful changes at a pace that works for them.

A significant focus of my work is helping clients understand and regulate their nervous system, particularly when trauma, chronic stress, or difficult life experiences have left them feeling constantly on edge, emotionally overwhelmed, shut down, or stuck in survival mode. Together, we work toward creating a greater sense of safety and regulation while identifying and changing patterns that are no longer serving them.

Clients can expect a therapeutic environment that is safe, authentic, supportive, and honest. I am empathetic, but I am also willing to challenge my clients when needed. Sometimes growth requires hearing what we need to hear rather than simply what we want to hear, and I believe those conversations can happen with both honesty and compassion.

Ultimately, my goal is not simply to help clients feel better in the moment, but to help them develop greater self-awareness, emotional regulation, resilience, healthier coping skills, and confidence in their ability to navigate life. I want clients to leave therapy with a better understanding of themselves and practical tools they can continue using long after therapy ends.