- Client-centered
- Practical skills
- Compassionate support
About Susan
Susan O'Connell is a licensed clinical social worker with 35 years of practice in Wisconsin. She started her career focused on addictions and has since broadened to help people facing depression, stress, anxiety, grief, and chronic medical concerns. She emphasizes meeting people where they are and respects the effort it takes to reach out for help.
O'Connell listens for strengths and helps clients set realistic steps toward change. She uses practical tools and assigns short exercises between sessions to reinforce progress. Her approach blends client-centered care with techniques drawn from cognitive behavioral therapy and solution-focused work.
Across decades of practice she has supported people dealing with relationship strain, parenting pressures, caregiving stress, and issues tied to identity and intimacy. She also commonly addresses addictions, family of origin concerns, and job or money stress. Her style is straightforward and compassionate, aimed at making therapy usable in daily life.
She maintains a focus on ongoing learning and adapts methods to each person’s needs. Sessions aim to clarify goals, build coping skills, and reduce patterns that get in the way of moving forward. Susan asks people to view therapy as a collaborative process where small changes add up.
For scheduling, she works primarily Wednesday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Saturdays 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Those needing evening appointments should consider other practitioners. To begin, clients use the site’s Start Therapy button to complete a brief matching questionnaire and schedule based on availability.
How Susan Uses Client-Centered and Practical Therapies Online
Client-centered therapy focuses on the person in the room, offering empathy and acceptance while the client leads the conversation. It helps when someone needs a judgment-free space to sort feelings and identify priorities.Cognitive behavioral therapy looks at patterns of thought and behavior that keep problems going and teaches specific techniques to change them. It can be useful for anxiety, depression, and stress when people want clear steps to feel better. Solution-focused therapy zeroes in on small, realistic goals and builds on what already works; it is often used when someone wants quicker, action-oriented progress.
Choosing the right approach is a cooperative process. The therapist will discuss goals, preferences, and what felt helpful in past efforts to decide whether to emphasize client-centered listening, CBT skills, or solution-focused steps. That choice can shift as progress is made.
Please confirm the available session options before booking, as the biography does not list specific formats. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life - for example, shorter check-ins during a work break, or avoiding travel time so sessions are less disruptive to daily routines. Licensed professionals can adapt homework and exercises to match whichever session format you choose.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
35+ years
Listed in
Wisconsin
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she help with?
Susan works with stress, anxiety, depression, addictions, grief, relationship strain, caregiving fatigue, and related issues listed on her profile.
What is her therapy style like?
She takes a client-centered approach, listening first and then using practical tools from cognitive behavioral and solution-focused methods.
How much experience does she have?
She has 35 years of clinical experience, beginning in addictions and expanding to a broad range of emotional and life concerns.
Where does she practice and what are her credentials?
She is a licensed clinical social worker in Wisconsin and holds the LCSW credential listed on her profile.
Can I work with her if I live outside the U.S.?
Sessions are offered in English and she does not accept international clients at this time.
What session formats does she offer?
The original biography does not specify session formats; please confirm current session options before booking.
How are sessions paid for?
Cost varies with location and availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Use the Start Therapy button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to the therapist's availability.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the crisis numbers.