- Attachment-based work
- Cognitive behavioral tools
- Mindfulness practice
About Susan
Susan Garner is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in California with 20 years of clinical experience. She works with young adults and others facing stress, anxiety, relationship and intimacy issues, trauma and abuse, depression, grief, anger, self-esteem, career concerns, bipolar disorder, ADHD, and life changes.
Susan uses talking and practical skills work to help people notice what keeps them stuck. She helps clients name goals, spot unhelpful patterns, and try new ways of relating and coping. Sessions combine listening with strategies drawn from several approaches so people can see what helps in daily life.
Her background blends client-centered work with attachment ideas, cognitive behavioral techniques, emotionally focused methods, mindfulness, and psychodynamic thinking. That means sessions may include attention to relationship patterns, thoughts and behaviors, emotional experience, and present-moment awareness. She adapts the mix to the concerns a person brings.
Susan has experience across many family and relationship issues such as abandonment, blended family challenges, infidelity, and family of origin problems. She also supports work on body image, codependency, communication problems, guilt and shame, and feelings of emptiness.
Her style is practical and relational. She helps people build communication skills, set healthier boundaries, and manage mood or anxiety symptoms. For young adults this often means working on career decisions, the stress of new independence, and the emotional fallout of major life transitions.
Sessions are conducted in English. International clients are accepted. Fees vary by location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time. To begin, select the See online therapy options button and complete the short matching questionnaire to schedule a first session.
How her clinical approaches fit online
Attachment-based work focuses on how early relationship patterns shape current connections and trust. Online sessions can look at how those patterns show up now in friendships, romantic relationships, and family dynamics and help people try different responses.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) targets unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. In short exercises clients learn to spot thought patterns, test them, and try new behaviors that reduce anxiety or improve mood. This approach is useful for stress, anxiety, and work or school performance issues.
Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) helps people notice and name underlying emotions and then shift how they respond in relationships. It tends to be helpful for intimacy, communication problems, and repairing trust after conflicts.
Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with the client to decide which methods suit their goals, needs, and preferences. That may mean trying an approach for a few sessions and adjusting based on what helps.
Session formats are not listed here, so confirm the available options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week - shorter check-ins around classes or work, sessions without a commute, and easier access for people living in different locations. Licensed professionals often adapt exercises to an online setting so skills practice and emotional exploration can still happen effectively.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
20+ years
Listed in
California, Oregon
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, relationship and intimacy issues, trauma, depression, grief, anger, self-esteem, career concerns, bipolar disorder, ADHD and related family problems.
How would she describe her therapeutic style?
Her style mixes listening with practical exercises. Expect a balance of talking, skills work, and attention to relationship patterns and emotions.
How much experience does she have?
She has 20 years of clinical experience as a therapist working with adults across many issues.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is an LMFT licensed in California and works from that state.
Can I work with her if I live outside the US?
International clients are accepted and sessions are offered in English.
What session formats are offered?
Session formats are not specified here; please confirm current session options before booking.
How much do sessions cost?
Fees vary with location; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I get started?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy through BetterHelp is for adults aged 18 and over and is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the emergency numbers. Find someone else by name.