Susan MacDonald

Susan MacDonald is a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC) based in Rhode Island. She helps people who are coping with stress, anxiety, low self-esteem, depression, and major life changes. She also offers focused support around relationship strain and divorce and separation concerns.

Susan keeps sessions direct and practical. She works with each person to build a comfortable space for talking through difficult feelings. Expect straightforward conversation, gentle reflection, and tools you can try between meetings.

Her style blends several approaches to fit the problem at hand. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is used to identify unhelpful thoughts and try new patterns. Client-centered work emphasizes listening and following the client’s goals. Elements of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and mindfulness are added when coping skills and emotional balance are needed.

Across 14 years of practice she has supported people dealing with communication problems, codependency, family of origin issues, guilt and shame, and feelings of emptiness or isolation. She also works with people facing mood disorders, panic, obsessive-compulsive concerns, and post-traumatic stress.

Susan aims to help people regain a sense of purpose and build self-compassion. She invites clients to set goals and try small, realistic steps toward change. To begin, she asks people to complete a brief matching questionnaire and then schedule based on availability.

Therapeutic approaches and how they work online

Susan commonly draws on Client-Centered Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in her work. Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening closely and following each person's goals so sessions feel collaborative and respectful. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy looks at thoughts and behaviors, and offers practical strategies to change patterns that feed anxiety or low mood.

She also uses Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills when people need tools for managing intense emotions and improving coping. DBT offers concrete skills for distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and better interpersonal effectiveness, which can be practiced between sessions.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. She will talk with each person about symptoms, goals, and preferences, and then tailor methods together. That collaborative process helps pick techniques that fit daily life and feel useful.

The practical benefits of online therapy often include easier scheduling, fewer travel needs, and the ability to fit sessions into a busy day. If you prefer certain session arrangements, confirm the current session options before booking so they match your routine. Many people find it simpler to maintain momentum when sessions fit into their ordinary schedules.