- Stress and anxiety
- Self esteem work
- CBT and DBT tools
About Susan
Susan MacDonald is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in Rhode Island with 14 years of clinical experience. She works with adults facing stress, anxiety, depression, relationship concerns, low self-esteem, and the disruption that comes with life changes. Susan also addresses issues such as codependency, communication problems, divorce and separation, and feelings of emptiness or isolation.
Susan uses straightforward, conversation-based work to help people clarify what matters to them next. She listens for patterns that keep someone stuck and offers exercises and reflections drawn from cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness. Sessions focus on practical steps that can be used between meetings as well as on understanding underlying feelings and beliefs.
Her approach blends client-centered listening with tools from DBT and motivational interviewing when helpful. That means she pays attention to what the person needs now, and offers concrete skills for managing strong emotions, improving relationships, and making intentional changes. Work may include skill practice, thought-pattern work, and gentle exploration of past family influences.
Susan is comfortable addressing complex mood concerns such as panic, obsessive-compulsive tendencies, and post-traumatic stress alongside midlife questions and searches for life purpose. She supports people working through guilt, shame, or the aftermath of separation and loss. Practical coping strategies and clearer personal priorities are frequent focuses.
To begin, she asks about current struggles, what a better week would look like, and small first steps a person can try. The tone is direct and conversational, with attention to what will fit into someone’s day-to-day life.
How therapeutic approaches translate to online work
Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes listening and reflecting so the person feels understood; online sessions keep the focus on what the client wants to address and on building a practical plan. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) identifies unhelpful thoughts and tests them with small behavioral steps, which can be assigned as short exercises between online meetings. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) offers concrete skills for emotion regulation and distress tolerance that translate into simple practices a client can try during the week.Finding the right approach is treated as a collaborative process. The therapist will ask about current goals, daily routines, and what has or has not helped before. Together they decide which methods to try first and adjust based on what feels useful and realistic for the client’s situation.
Session formats are not specified in the biography, so confirm the available options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy schedule, allow for shorter check-ins when needed, and let people practice skills in their usual surroundings. The emphasis is on approaches and scheduling that match everyday life rather than promising any particular outcome.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
14+ years
Listed in
Rhode Island
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she help with?
Susan works with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship concerns, low self-esteem, and coping with life changes. She also addresses issues like codependency, communication problems, divorce and separation, and feelings of emptiness.
How would she describe her therapeutic style?
Her style is client-centered and conversational, using practical exercises from CBT, DBT, and mindfulness. Sessions focus on both immediate coping skills and understanding patterns that keep someone stuck.
How much experience does she have?
She has 14 years of professional experience as a clinician working with mood, anxiety, and relationship concerns.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
Susan is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, listed as RI LMHC, and practices in Rhode Island.
Which languages are supported in sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the United States work with her?
International clients are not currently accepted.
How are sessions arranged and what does it cost?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What are the steps to start working together?
Begin by selecting the See online therapy options button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and scheduling a first session.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the crisis numbers.