- LGBT related issues
- Grief and loss
- Self esteem work
About Susan
Susan Bowes is an LCSW licensed in Illinois with 15 years of clinical experience. She helps people who are facing grief, low self-esteem, shifts in identity or direction, and issues related to LGBT experience. She also supports people coping with compassion fatigue and the effects of chronic illness or pain.
Susan works in straightforward, conversational sessions. She listens for what matters most to each person and helps them sort priorities and next steps. Conversations focus on concrete problems and manageable changes rather than abstract goals.
Her approach involves practical talk about everyday life. She helps people notice patterns, try different ways of responding, and evaluate what works. Sessions often cover coping skills, setting boundaries, and rebuilding confidence after a loss or major change.
Susan pays attention to the emotional and practical sides of problems. That can mean talking about guilt, forgiveness, or sexuality alongside planning routines and supports. She encourages small experiments between sessions so people can test new ways of handling situations.
People describe bringing both immediate concerns and longer term questions about life purpose. Susan makes room for that mix and helps people clarify what matters now. To begin, she asks simple questions about current struggles and what a reasonable next step would look like.
Therapeutic approaches and online care
Evidence-based techniques she uses focus on practical change and emotional processing. One common approach helps people identify patterns in thinking and behavior, then try small experiments to see what shifts those patterns. This method is useful for overcoming stuckness, low motivation, and problems with self-esteem.Another focus is on grief and processing loss. That approach supports naming painful feelings, understanding how loss affects daily life, and finding manageable steps to rebuild routine and purpose. It is aimed at easing the weight of grief while preserving what matters to each person.
Deciding which approach to use is part of the work. The therapist collaborates with each person to match methods to their goals, needs, and preferences. That means reviewing what has helped or not helped in the past and adjusting the plan as sessions progress.
If you are considering sessions online, confirm the current session options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and remove travel time. The focus remains on practical, manageable steps you can use between appointments.
Areas of expertise
Additional focus areas
Experience
15+ years
Listed in
Illinois
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she address?
She works with LGBT related issues, grief, self-esteem, coping with life changes, and compassion fatigue, plus related areas such as chronic pain, guilt, and life purpose.
How does she approach feeling stuck or directionless?
Her sessions use practical conversation to identify patterns and next steps. The focus is on small, testable changes and clear priorities.
What experience does she bring to this work?
She has 15 years of professional experience working with the listed concerns and related challenges.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is an LCSW licensed in Illinois and practices from that state.
Does she offer sessions in languages other than English?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the United States work with her?
She is not currently accepting international clients.
How much do sessions cost?
Cost varies with location; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the crisis numbers.