Susan Sparks , LCSW

Susan Sparks has long combined a commitment to community service with focused work in mental health. She has worked with children of all ages across a variety of settings and has volunteered locally for over 35 years, witnessing mental health challenges that motivated her to support meaningful change. She earned a Master of Social Work from the University of Illinois in 2011 and became a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in 2013, a credential that reflects specialized training to provide clinical social work services.

In her therapeutic work she supports children, young adults, individuals, and families with a life-centered, individualized approach. She applies research-based strategies to address behavioral concerns, anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, trauma, and anger management, among other issues. Her methods include cognitive behavioral therapy, play therapy, behavioral therapy, applied behavior analysis, mindfulness practice, and holistic therapies, chosen to match each person’s needs.

Sparks believes that people of every age possess strengths they can draw on when facing challenges, and that some individuals benefit from more guidance than others. She focuses on helping clients identify those strengths, work through obstacles, and build toward more fulfilling and productive lives.

Evidence-Based Techniques for Online Care

Susan Sparks uses therapy methods that translate well to remote formats. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy focuses on identifying and shifting unhelpful thoughts and behaviors; it is often used for anxiety, depression, and stress-related concerns and offers practical tools clients can apply between sessions. Play Therapy supports children by using age-appropriate activities and play to express feelings and build coping skills, helping young clients process emotions in a developmentally appropriate way. Mindfulness practice teaches simple attention and breathing exercises to help manage stress and increase emotional awareness.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Susan Sparks works together with each person or family to determine which techniques fit their goals, preferences, and day-to-day life, and she adjusts strategies over time as needs evolve.

Online therapy options - including video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging - make scheduling more flexible and reduce travel time, which can be especially useful for busy families and people balancing work or school. These formats allow licensed professionals to provide consistent, goal-focused care that fits into clients' routines.