- Client-centered care
- DBT skills focused
- 21 years experience
About Susan
Susan Trefts helps people who are feeling overwhelmed by stress, anxiety, grief, or the lingering effects of trauma. She writes plainly and listens closely so people can name what’s most troubling them and take small steps forward. Susan is a licensed clinical social worker with 21 years of experience and brings a calm, steady presence to sessions.
She believes each person knows their own story best and treats clients as the experts on their lives. Sessions focus on practical goals such as building confidence, managing strong emotions, and improving communication. Susan uses Client-Centered Therapy to follow the client’s lead and Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills to teach emotion regulation and coping tools.
Work often includes identifying patterns that get in the way, practicing new ways to respond, and finding activities that restore energy and purpose. She also supports people coping with body image struggles, guilt, shame, and issues around forgiveness and self-love. The approach is straightforward and goal-oriented, with attention to what each person needs right now.
Susan holds both LCSW and LICSW credentials and is licensed to practice in Oregon. Her background includes two decades of work helping people manage life transitions and trauma-related difficulties. She aims to make the process as clear and manageable as possible.
To begin, she asks people to describe their current priorities and what would feel most helpful in the coming weeks. Sessions move at a pace set by each person, with room for practical skill-building and thoughtful reflection.
How Client-Centered and DBT Work Online
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening, acceptance, and following what matters most to the client. Online sessions using this approach start with the person’s priorities and proceed at their pace. DBT provides specific skills for managing intense emotions and improving communication, such as breathing and grounding techniques, emotion regulation strategies, and step-by-step problem solving.Choosing the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will collaborate with each person to decide which methods fit their needs and goals. That may mean emphasizing supportive, client-led conversation at times and practicing DBT skills at others so people gain tools they can use between sessions.
Confirm current session options before booking to know how Susan is conducting appointments. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when schedules are tight. It can also let people practice DBT skills in the everyday settings where they encounter stress. Ask about session length and scheduling when arranging the first appointment to find a plan that works with daily routines.
Areas of expertise
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
21+ years
Listed in
Washington, Oregon
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does this therapist commonly address?
Susan works with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, and compassion fatigue. She also focuses on self esteem, body image, guilt and shame, and finding life purpose.
What is the therapy style like in sessions?
Sessions combine Client-Centered Therapy with practical DBT skills. That means conversations follow the client’s pace while also teaching concrete tools to manage emotions.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 21 years of professional experience working with people on stress, trauma, grief, and related issues.
What credentials and region apply to this therapist?
Susan holds LCSW and LICSW credentials and is licensed to practice in Oregon.
In which languages are sessions offered?
Sessions are offered in English.
Are international clients accepted for work together?
International clients are not currently accepted.
How are costs and billing handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What are the first steps to begin therapy?
Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule according to the therapist’s availability.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the crisis numbers.