- Focus on coping skills
- Collaborative care
- Evidence-informed methods
About Susan
Susan MacDonald is a licensed mental health counselor in Rhode Island with 14 years of experience. She focuses on helping people who are feeling overwhelmed by stress and anxiety, including panic disorder and panic attacks. She also supports those coping with depression, low self-esteem, and life transitions.
Susan keeps sessions straightforward and respectful. She creates an open space where people can talk about their thoughts and feelings without judgment. Her work centers on collaboration and practical steps people can use between sessions.
Her approach draws on several methods to meet real-life needs. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy helps identify unhelpful thinking patterns and change behaviors that maintain anxiety. Dialectical Behavior Therapy offers tools for emotion regulation and handling intense moments. Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and reflecting so people feel heard while they consider change.
Susan also weaves in mindfulness and motivational interviewing to support awareness and personal growth. She helps clients break down big problems into manageable goals and practices. The pace and tools are chosen together based on what feels most useful.
If you are thinking about starting therapy, Susan asks questions to learn about your challenges and priorities. She then works with you to build a plan that fits your life and goals.
How therapeutic approaches translate to online care
Client-Centered Therapy is about being heard and understood. The therapist listens reflectively and follows the client’s lead to help clarify goals and values. This approach is useful when someone needs a supportive place to sort through strong feelings.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing new behaviors. Sessions usually include practical exercises and homework that help reduce anxiety and change patterns that feed panic and low mood.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy, or DBT, teaches concrete skills for regulating intense emotions and tolerating distress. It offers step-by-step tools that can be practiced between appointments to manage panic moments and overwhelm.
Finding the right approach is part of therapy. The therapist will discuss goals, preferences, and what has or hasn’t helped before. Together they decide which methods to try and adjust them as needed so the work fits the client’s life.
Confirm current session options before booking since formats are not specified here. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy schedule, reduce travel time, and allow for check-ins from different locations. Some people prefer shorter or audio-only meetings when that helps them stay consistent. Ask about available formats when you reach out so you can plan sessions that work for you.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
14+ years
Listed in
Rhode Island
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does Susan commonly help with?
She helps people manage stress, anxiety, panic disorder and panic attacks, depression, low self-esteem, and challenges related to life changes.
What is her general therapeutic style?
Sessions are collaborative and down-to-earth, with a focus on listening, practical skills, and small achievable steps toward change.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She brings 14 years of professional experience working with mood and anxiety concerns and relationship-related issues.
What credential does she hold and where is she based?
She is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, LMHC, and practices in Rhode Island.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the United States work with her?
She is not accepting international clients at this time.
How does pricing and payment work?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What steps do I take to begin working together?
Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule a session according to the therapist's availability.