- Client-focused support
- Practical coping skills
- Mindful behavior tools
About Susan
Susan MacDonald is a licensed mental health counselor in Rhode Island with 14 years of experience. She helps people who are feeling overwhelmed by stress, anxiety, low mood, or worries about relationships and self-worth. Her approach aims to make talking about hard things easier and less frightening. She focuses on practical steps people can try between sessions.
Susan creates a calm, nonjudgmental space where clients can speak openly about their thoughts and feelings. She listens for what matters to each person and works together with them to set clear, realistic goals. Sessions often include skill practice, problem solving, and moments to reflect on patterns that keep problems repeating.
Her work includes support for those dealing with life changes, loneliness, family of origin issues, and feelings of emptiness or shame. She also addresses concerns such as codependency, communication problems, divorce and separation, and struggles with motivation or life purpose. Treatment plans are adapted to the specific concerns a person brings.
Susan draws on several well-known methods, including client-centered therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, mindfulness therapy, and motivational interviewing. She explains techniques in straightforward terms and helps people try them in everyday life. The focus is on small, manageable changes that add up over time.
To start, she asks people what they want to change and what feels most important. From there she helps build a step-by-step plan and offers steady support as clients try new ways of coping and relating to others.
How these approaches shape online therapy
Susan uses client-centered therapy to put the person's goals first, focusing on listening and responding to what matters most. This approach helps people feel heard and involved in choosing next steps. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) looks at how thoughts and behaviors keep problems going and teaches concrete skills to shift them. CBT is often used for anxiety, depression, and stress-related patterns.Finding the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will review concerns, goals, and preferences in early sessions and suggest a direction that fits. That plan can change as progress happens, and Susan aims to include clients in decisions about methods and pacing.
Confirm current session options before booking, as formats are not listed here. Many people find online sessions helpful for fitting therapy into busy days, allowing a check-in during a lunch break or on a morning when travel would be difficult. Online work can make practicing skills between meetings easier because techniques are reviewed where people live their daily routines. Discussing which approach and format suit practical needs is part of the first conversations with the therapist.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
14+ years
Credentials
Rhode Island
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does this therapist address?
Susan helps people with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship concerns, and low self-esteem. She also focuses on codependency, communication problems, and life transitions.
What is the style of therapy like?
Sessions are client-centered and collaborative, with practical skill building and reflective conversation. Techniques often include cognitive behavior and mindfulness exercises.
How much experience does the therapist have?
The counselor has 14 years of professional experience working with a range of mood and relationship concerns.
What are the therapist's credentials and location?
The clinician holds the credential LMHC and practices in Rhode Island as listed.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Are international clients supported?
International clients are not currently accepted.
How is cost handled for sessions?
Cost varies with location and therapist scheduling; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What should I do to begin working with this therapist?
Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.
Profile details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. Credential and registration rules differ between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.