- Stress and anxiety
- Trauma and abuse
- Guilt and shame
About Susan
Susan Gallenz is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Virginia with 15 years of professional experience. She works with adults who are dealing with stress, anxiety, grief, trauma, anger, and LGBT related concerns, and she lists guilt and shame among her focus areas.
Susan approaches sessions with the understanding that each person knows their own life best. She treats clients as collaborators and points out strengths they can use when facing hard feelings. In session she guides conversation, helps name patterns, and works with practical steps people can try between meetings.
Her background includes a Master of Social Work from the University of Georgia and earlier service as an at-risk youth volunteer with the U.S. Peace Corps in Jamaica. Those experiences shaped her interest in working with people under stress and with trauma histories. She has also worked with issues tied to panic attacks, post-traumatic stress, and workplace strain.
Sessions focus on concrete problems such as communication difficulties, isolation and loneliness, or trouble with forgiveness. Susan also supports people navigating mood disorders and social anxiety. She aims to help clients notice what is getting in the way and practice different ways of responding.
Her style is straightforward and goal-minded. She will help you set priorities for therapy and try small changes that can make daily life feel more manageable. To begin, the site asks clients to complete a brief matching questionnaire and schedule a first session.
Approaches used and how online work fits practical life
Two evidence-based techniques Susan uses are trauma-informed methods and cognitive-based skills. Trauma-informed approaches focus on understanding how past harm affects current reactions and help people learn ways to reduce reactivity and manage reminders. Cognitive-based skills involve noticing unhelpful thoughts, testing them, and practicing alternative responses to reduce anxiety and shame.She treats finding the right approach as a collaborative process. The therapist will work with each person to agree what to try first, reassess progress, and adjust methods based on the client’s goals and preferences. That way the plan reflects what matters most to the individual.
Confirm the exact session formats before booking since the biography does not list specific online options. In general, online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and remove travel time. These practical benefits can help people keep sessions regular while they work on coping with guilt, shame, anxiety, and stress.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Experience
15+ years
Listed in
Virginia
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she help with?
Susan works with stress, anxiety, grief, trauma and abuse, anger, and LGBT related concerns. She also lists guilt and shame, panic attacks, mood disorders, and workplace issues among her focus areas.
How does she approach therapy?
She treats clients as the expert on their own story and works collaboratively to identify strengths. Sessions involve conversation, naming patterns, and practical steps to try between meetings.
What is her clinical experience?
She has 15 years of professional experience as an LCSW and earlier experience working with at-risk youth through the U.S. Peace Corps in Jamaica.
Where is she licensed and based?
Susan is a Virginia LCSW and practices in Virginia.
Which languages are supported?
Sessions are offered in English.
Does she work with international clients?
International clients are not currently accepted.
How are sessions arranged and what is the cost?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I get started with a first session?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger or thinking about harming yourself, use the crisis numbers.