Susan Ryder , LCPC

Susan Ryder is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) practicing in Maine with 17 years of professional experience. She has worked with people facing stress and anxiety, challenges with motivation, struggles around self-esteem and confidence, depression, and the practical and emotional demands of life transitions. Susan approaches therapy from the premise that each person is the expert of their own story and that existing personal strengths are important resources for overcoming obstacles. She centers her work on listening carefully, helping clients recognize and build on what is already working, and partnering with them to set manageable goals. Beginning therapy can take real courage, and Susan acknowledges and honors that first step while offering steady, compassionate support as clients move forward.

Susan blends a respectful, collaborative style with practical techniques to help people regain a sense of direction and cope with difficult circumstances. Her practice emphasizes empowerment, clear communication, and tailoring the work to each person’s priorities and pace.

Therapeutic approaches Susan uses for online work

Susan often draws on Client-Centered Therapy to create a collaborative, nonjudgmental environment where the client’s perspective guides the work. This approach supports self-exploration, building confidence, and navigating life transitions by focusing on the client’s goals and strengths.

She also uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help people identify unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns and to develop practical skills for managing anxiety, depression, and stress. CBT is goal-oriented and teaches tools that can reduce distress and improve day-to-day functioning. Motivational Interviewing is another tool she applies when clients face uncertainty about change; it helps resolve ambivalence and increase personal motivation for steps like reducing risky behaviors or sustaining healthier routines.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process and Susan works collaboratively with each person to tailor methods to their needs, goals, and preferences. Online therapy via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging adds flexibility - it makes it easier to fit sessions into busy schedules, to continue work from different locations, and to choose the communication style that feels most comfortable. Licensed professionals and therapists can adapt these formats to support progress in meaningful, practical ways.