Therapeutic support for every layer of you
My Services
In-person and online options available as specified below.
Pyschotherapy
I offer therapy to help you move toward meaningful, sustainable change. My approach is goal-oriented yet always tailored to your unique needs, drawing on evidence-based methods including Family Systems Therapy, Couples/Family Therapy, Relational Therapy, and Control Mastery Theory.
In-person and online.
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy
A therapeutic approach that combines the use of ketamine with guided psychotherapy to support healing, emotional processing, and lasting psychological growth. I have a wonderful provider with whom I work in partnership to provide the best care.
In-person.
Training/Consulting
Among the most fulfilling aspects of my work as a psychologist, I truly enjoy supporting both emerging and experienced clinicians as they navigate complex clinical challenges, including transference, countertransference, and therapy-interfering behaviors.
In-person and online.
My Specialties
My specialties include long-term recovery from substance use, support for trauma and PTSD, Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy, impulse control, and relationship challenges.
See details.
“My journey with Susan was truly heart-opening and profound. I felt lovingly held, safe and supported by her compassionate presence, which allowed me to surrender fully to the experience. My heart is filled with gratitude, and I know without hesitation that I will journey with her again.”
— SHERRY, SANTA CRUZ, CA
Pyschotherapy
50 mins | $225 individual
60 mins | $250 couples/families
In-person & online
Psychotherapy provides a supportive space for reflection and exploration—a place to work through challenges, heal emotional wounds, and build lasting patterns that promote well-being. I offer therapy to help you move toward meaningful, sustainable change. My approach is goal-oriented yet always tailored to your unique needs, drawing on evidence-based methods including Family Systems Therapy, Couples/Family Therapy, Relational Therapy, and Control Mastery Theory.
With couples and families, I focus on identifying the patterns that shape your relationships and support you in shifting them toward healthier, more fulfilling dynamics. Using the lens of Control Mastery Theory, we’ll uncover unconscious beliefs that may be holding you back and work to replace them with more empowering, supportive narratives.
For those struggling with impulsivity or emotion regulation, I incorporate skills from Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to help build awareness and create space between impulse and action—strengthening your capacity for choice and emotional balance.
Therapy can be helpful at any stage—whether you're navigating relationship issues, substance use, major life transitions, or simply seeking greater clarity and fulfillment. Together, we’ll explore what’s been getting in the way while also building on the strengths, skills, and insights you already possess.
Above all, my goal is for you to feel truly seen, heard, and understood. I’ll be a steady, compassionate partner as you move toward a life that feels more connected, balanced, and aligned with who you are.
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy
Fees to be arranged
I offer Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) for individuals who may benefit from a different kind of healing process. In a safe, supportive setting, ketamine can help quiet mental and emotional defenses, allowing you to explore thoughts, feelings, and memories with greater openness. This can create space for new perspectives, emotional release, and meaningful breakthroughs, often in ways that feel more accessible than traditional talk therapy alone. Throughout the process, I’ll guide and support you, helping integrate what arises into lasting change in your everyday life.
Training/Consulting
Fees to be arranged
Consulting and training are among the most fulfilling aspects of my work as a psychologist. I truly enjoy supporting both emerging and experienced clinicians as they navigate complex clinical challenges, including transference, countertransference, and therapy-interfering behaviors. I have a particular passion for working with clients facing issues related to addiction, impulse control, personality disorders, and trauma, and I find it deeply rewarding to help clinicians strengthen their skills in these areas.
In addition to consulting with substance abuse programs on program development, I’ve taught graduate-level courses such as Couples Therapy, Treating Trauma, and Substance Abuse Intervention at Alliant International University and Sacramento State. I've led in-service trainings on Control Mastery Theory and its applications in trauma and substance abuse treatment. I also provide consultation to clinicians integrating Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy into their practice. As the Founder and CEO of the Auburn Davis Center for DBT, I’ve led numerous trainings in Dialectical Behavior Therapy for teens, parents, couples, and fellow clinicians.
As I near the later stages of my career, my legacy project focuses on bringing social-emotional learning and resilience-building skills to children in school environments. In partnership with Jay Indik, LCSW, Oakland DBT, Auburn Davis DBT, and fellow DBT practitioners across the country, we are continually exploring new ways to offer preventive support to help young people navigate life's challenges.
My Specialties
I provide effective, evidence-based techniques to help clients find relief, strengthen coping skills, and create lasting change. My specialties include psychotherapy for trauma and PTSD, Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy, impulse control, and relationship challenges, and long-term recovery from substance use.
With extensive experience in affect regulation and a deep understanding of 12-Step recovery programs, I work with individuals, couples, and families to build greater emotional stability, balance, and meaningful connection.
Substance Abuse
If substance use has taken control of your life, you don’t have to face it alone. Addiction, whether to alcohol or other drugs, can leave you feeling isolated, overwhelmed, or stuck in patterns that hurt both you and the people you care about. In our work together, we’ll explore the underlying challenges driving your substance use and develop strategies to regain control, rebuild stability, and create a healthier, drug-free life. I provide individualized guidance, support, and therapy tailored to your unique needs, with the goal of helping you repair the impact of addiction and move toward lasting recovery.