Susan Jester , LMFT

Susan Jester is a licensed marriage and family therapist based in California who brings 31 years of clinical experience to her work supporting people through major life changes and emotional hardship. She uses evidence-based techniques to help individuals manage depression, anxiety, relationship difficulties, and the effects of trauma, tailoring her approach to each person’s history and current needs. As an LMFT - Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist - she draws on training in relational dynamics and communication patterns to help clients repair connections, set boundaries, and improve emotional regulation.

Susan has particular experience with older adults, women’s issues, and people facing transitions such as midlife shifts, chronic health concerns, and caregiver stress. Her practice emphasizes understanding attachment dynamics and family of origin influences while supporting recovery from post-traumatic stress, mood disorders, and the lasting impact of difficult personal experiences. She helps people explore their emotional landscape, build resilience, and pursue meaningful growth at their own pace.

Known for an empathetic and personalized style, Susan aims to create a respectful therapeutic relationship where clients feel heard and supported. She partners with each person to identify practical goals and foster inner strengths that promote long-term wellbeing and improved relationships.

Evidence-Based Approaches and Flexible Online Care

Susan frequently uses attachment-informed work to explore how early relationship patterns influence current emotions and interpersonal behavior. This approach helps people understand repeating patterns, improve closeness and trust, and address issues such as attachment difficulties and family of origin concerns.

She also applies trauma-informed techniques that focus on stabilizing symptoms, processing distressing experiences at a manageable pace, and building coping skills. These methods are useful for people recovering from post-traumatic stress, sexual assault and abuse, and other traumatic events.

Finding the right therapeutic approach is part of the process, and Susan collaborates with each person to determine what fits best. She works with clients to identify goals, test different strategies, and adjust the plan based on progress, preferences, and life circumstances.

Online therapy options include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, offering flexibility for busy schedules, caregiving responsibilities, and mobility limitations. These formats make it easier to maintain consistent care and integrate therapeutic work into daily life, while allowing licensed professionals to deliver structured, evidence-based support from a distance.