Hi, I'm Susanna
I'm a zen practicing therapist+musician who loves working with people on their journeys to healthier relationships and becoming their most authentic selves. Trees, books, stringed instruments and meditating outside make me really happy. I also have a cute though somewhat misbehaved dog who hangs out during therapy sessions (she will be quiet, but you might hear her drinking water or playing with a toy once in awhile).
I was raised fundamentalist (Reformed Baptist, Calvinist) and spent a lot of my childhood learning fire and brimstone theology and memorizing verses from the King James Bible. Needless to say I chose to leave the "sinners in the hands of an angry God" mentality behind when I grew up. The truth is, being hard on ourselves doesn't help us or anyone else. But compassion, love, acceptance and presence connect us to who we really are, and who we can become.
Along the journey, I've played a lot of music (with friends, in bands and on my own) and become a therapist. I wrote an album while in grad school and took a year off after grad school to play shows and work at a record store. I believe it's OK to have multiple passions, to want to do a lot of things, to use your voice, and to take your time figuring it all out.
Hi, I'm Susanna
I'm a zen practicing therapist+musician who loves working with people on their journeys to healthier relationships and becoming their most authentic selves. Trees, books, stringed instruments and meditating outside make me really happy. I also have a cute though somewhat misbehaved dog who hangs out during therapy sessions (she will be quiet, but you might hear her drinking water or playing with a toy once in awhile).
I was raised fundamentalist (Reformed Baptist, Calvinist) and spent a lot of my childhood learning fire and brimstone theology and memorizing verses from the King James Bible. Needless to say I chose to leave the "sinners in the hands of an angry God" mentality behind when I grew up. The truth is, being hard on ourselves doesn't help us or anyone else. But compassion, love, acceptance and presence connect us to who we really are, and who we can become.
Along the journey, I've played a lot of music (with friends, in bands and on my own) and become a therapist. I wrote an album while in grad school and took a year off after grad school to play shows and work at a record store. I believe it's OK to have multiple passions, to want to do a lot of things, to use your voice, and to take your time figuring it all out.
Ok, onto the "resume facts."
I'm a licensed mental health counselor in NY and RI with a MS in Mental Health Counseling from St. John Fisher College and a B.A. in English Literature from SUNY Geneseo.
My work is LGBTQI affirming, multiculturally oriented, and open relationship/polyamory friendly.
I'm constantly learning so that I can bring more knowledge to our work together and help you reach your goals. To that end, I've completed special training in:
ACT w/ Russ Harris
CBT Essentials from the Beck Institute
CBT for Anxiety from the Beck Institute
Perinatal Mental Health from Postpartum Support International
Gottman Levels 1, 2 and 3 through Gottman Institute
Couples and Addiction Recovery - Gottman Institute
Emotion Focused Therapy from Sue Johnson
Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction from East Coast Mindfulness
Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills from Marsha Linehan/Behavioral Tech
Narrative Therapy from St. Joseph's Neighborhood Center
Somatic Wilderness Therapy with the Somatic Wilderness Therapy Institute
Why "Good Earth Counseling?"
Connecting with nature has been an important part of my own journey and for many of my clients. A long walk in the forest can be as healing as a therapy session (I recommend both!) Unfortunately, a lot of the deep existential angst and ambient anxiety modern people feel is related to the trauma of living in a world filled with environmental degradation as our only home is trashed around us. How would the world change if everyone got reconnected with their own essential goodness, with the goodness of others, and with the good earth we live on? I would love to find out. That's why I love working with couples and individuals as they heal their relationships, learn to manage anxiety, and become who they want to be. As Howard Thurman said, "The world needs people who have come alive."
I look forward to working with you!
In our work together, I want to help you tap into your own creativity and inner wisdom while also drawing from these evidence-based modalities to help you live a purposeful life, strengthen your relationships, get to know yourself in a deeper way, and reach your goals as a couple or an individual.
Puedo hablar contigo un poco de español, pero no puedo hablar con fluencia.