- 35 years experience
- Skills and homework
- Down-to-earth approach
About Susan
Susan O'Connell is a licensed clinical social worker with 35 years of practice in Wisconsin. She started her career focused on addictions and expanded into areas such as depression, stress, anxiety, grief, and caregiver fatigue. She helps people who are dealing with life changes and relationship strains find practical ways forward.
Susan aims to meet each person where they are. She looks for strengths and helps people build small, realistic plans to reach their goals. She honors the difficulty of asking for help and works to make people feel less alone in their struggles.
Her background includes long experience with substance use issues and work with families affected by addiction. Over the years she has treated chronic medical issues, compassion fatigue, and a range of emotional concerns like intimacy and self-esteem struggles. Codependency is listed among her additional focus areas.
Susan relies heavily on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy while also using client-centered and solution-focused methods. She often includes education and homework to extend progress between sessions. Her approach is down-to-earth and practical, with an emphasis on skills people can use in daily life.
Her schedule is primarily midweek and Saturdays, so readers seeking evening appointments are advised to check availability and consider other options if evenings are required. To begin, follow the site process to match and schedule based on current openings.
Therapeutic approaches and working online
Susan draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and client-centered and solution-focused ideas in her work. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy looks at how thoughts, feelings, and actions link together and teaches practical tools to change patterns that cause distress. Client-centered Therapy focuses on listening and understanding a person's perspective so they feel heard and can find their own answers. Solution-Focused Therapy emphasizes small, specific steps and goals that move a person toward the life they want.Choosing the right approach is part of the work together. Susan will discuss goals, preferences, and what has helped or not helped before. That conversation guides which methods are emphasized, and she adjusts plans as progress is made so the approach fits the client's needs.
The biography does not list specific online formats, so confirm available session options before booking. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy week, reduce travel time, or use shorter check-ins when schedules are tight. It can also allow people to continue work with a licensed professional while balancing caregiving, medical appointments, or work demands. Discussing practical scheduling needs and technical preferences helps identify the best format for each person.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
35+ years
Credentials
Wisconsin
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, addictions, depression, grief, trauma, relationship and intimacy issues, parenting and family concerns, and related life changes.
What is her therapy style like?
Her style is practical and client-centered. Sessions focus on strengths, goal setting, and homework to build skills between meetings.
How much experience does she have?
She has 35 years of experience in clinical social work, with an early focus on addictions and long experience in mood and caregiving issues.
What credentials and region are listed?
She holds an LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) in Wisconsin and practices in that state.
Which languages are supported and are international clients accepted?
Sessions are offered in English and international clients are not currently accepted.
What session formats are available?
Session formats were not specified in the biography; please confirm current session options before booking.
How is cost handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I get started?
Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to the therapist's availability.
Profile details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. Credential and registration rules differ between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.