- Client-centered approach
- Cognitive behavioral techniques
- Mindfulness practice
About Susan
Susan Lipkin is an LISW - Licensed Independent Social Worker in Ohio with 36 years of clinical experience. She focuses on common struggles such as stress, anxiety, depression, relationships, grief, parenting challenges, and anger. She also helps people facing trauma, LGBT concerns, career strain, and coping with life changes.
Susan uses a client-centered approach that begins by listening to what the person already knows and needs. She combines that listening with practical methods when appropriate, including cognitive behavioral techniques and mindfulness. Sessions are conversational and goal-focused, with attention to what is working and what needs to change.
Her background includes work in private psychotherapy practice, community mental health centers, psychiatric hospitals, and veterans' services. She has long experience supporting people who survived sexual or physical abuse and those working through domestic violence and military-related trauma. She has also supported people dealing with infertility stress and issues that come with aging.
Susan adapts her methods to each person's situation. She may use narrative or solution-focused ideas to reframe problems, or motivational interviewing to clarify goals and increase motivation. The emphasis is on practical steps people can use between sessions to manage mood, handle conflict, and reduce resentments.
People meet with Susan to talk through everyday triggers, simmering resentment, losing their temper, or managing someone else's strong emotions. She helps people learn what choices change patterns of behavior and what skills help reduce the frequency and intensity of outbursts.
How her approaches translate to online work
Client-Centered Therapy centers the person's experience and priorities, with the therapist listening carefully and following the person's lead to set goals and next steps. This approach helps when someone wants to work through anger triggers or relationship conflicts at their own pace.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) breaks problems into thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, then targets specific patterns to change. CBT is often used to reduce the intensity of anger by testing unhelpful thoughts and practicing alternative responses.
Mindfulness Therapy teaches simple attention and breathing exercises to notice emotions earlier and reduce automatic reactions. It can be useful for people who want tools to pause and choose their responses in heated moments.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with the client to identify which methods fit their goals and preferences. That may mean combining CBT, mindfulness, or narrative techniques over time and adjusting what is used as needs change.
Confirm current session formats before booking. Many people find online sessions helpful because they fit into workdays, remove travel time, and allow follow-up from home or another quieter place. If you need shorter check-ins, fewer visual demands, or a way to schedule around caregiving, discuss those preferences during the matching process so sessions can be arranged to fit everyday life.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
36+ years
Listed in
Ohio
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she address?
Susan helps with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship strain, grief, parenting challenges, anger, trauma and related life changes.
How would she describe her therapeutic style?
She uses a client-centered style that listens first and then brings in practical methods such as CBT, mindfulness, and narrative techniques as needed.
How much experience does she have?
She has 36 years of clinical experience, including private practice and work in community mental health, hospitals, and veterans' services.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is an LISW - Licensed Independent Social Worker licensed in Ohio and practices out of that state.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the United States work with her?
She is not accepting international clients at this time.
How are sessions paid for?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What do I do to begin working together?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.