Susan Soares , LCSW

Susan Soares is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) based in Indiana who brings 17 years of clinical experience to her therapeutic work. She has provided care in school-based settings and continues to support both children and families as well as adult clients, working with a range of concerns including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Susan’s approach is relational and warm, grounded in creating a relaxed atmosphere where people feel heard. She blends sensitivity with clear, steady guidance, believing that effective change grows from a balance of empathy and structure. Her practice emphasizes healing across mind, body, and spirit, reflecting a holistic view that supports well-being on multiple levels.

Throughout her career she has supported clients facing stress, trauma, parenting challenges, relationship and family concerns, grief, and a variety of mood and neurodiverse presentations. Susan draws on evidence-informed methods while tailoring sessions to each person’s strengths, needs, and life context. She encourages clients to see therapy as a collaborative journey and aims to walk alongside them as they move toward the life they want.

Susan welcomes the decision to begin counseling as a meaningful step and offers steady, compassionate support for people ready to make change.

Evidence-Informed Approaches and Online Care

Susan integrates client-centered therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and dialectical behavior therapy into her work. Client-centered therapy focuses on building a trusting relationship and responding to each person with empathy and acceptance - it helps when someone needs a supportive space to explore their feelings and goals. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) looks at how thoughts and behaviors interact and offers practical strategies to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression and to change unhelpful patterns. Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) teaches concrete skills for managing intense emotions, improving interpersonal effectiveness, and tolerating distress, which can be especially useful for people dealing with strong emotional swings or relationship challenges.

Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the therapeutic process, and Susan works collaboratively with each person to identify the methods that best match their needs, goals, and preferences. She adapts techniques from these therapies to suit developmental stage, life context, and individual strengths.

Online therapy with Susan is offered through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, providing flexibility for busy schedules and varied comfort levels. These options make it easier to access licensed professionals from home, while allowing sessions to fit into workdays, school routines, or caregiving responsibilities.