Susan Blanchard, LCPC, LPC

Susan Blanchard is a licensed counselor who brings practical support to people facing life changes. She holds LCPC and LPC credentials and practices from Illinois. Susan focuses on clear, down-to-earth conversations that help people move forward. Susan uses cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy alongside existential and solution-focused ideas. She helps clients break problems into manageable steps and test new ways of thinking and acting. Sessions emphasize real-life tools that can be used between meetings. Her style is direct and compassionate. She listens for what matters most to each person and adapts the conversation to fit their situation. Susan aims to create a space where people can name their struggles, try new strategies, and track progress. Common concerns she addresses include anxiety, depression, grief, stress, ADHD challenges, and relationship or family-related issues. She also works with clients around intimacy questions, gender dysphoria, caregiving stress, and non-traditional relationship dynamics. When needed, she focuses on coping skills for self-harm urges and mood shifts. With four years of experience, Susan draws on practical methods and collaborative planning. She supports clients who want clear goals, hands-on tools, and steady guidance while they make changes in daily life.

How evidence-based approaches work online

CBT focuses on identifying unhelpful thinking patterns and testing new behaviors. It helps with anxiety, depression, mood swings, and day-to-day problems by creating small, practical steps to change how someone thinks and acts. DBT teaches concrete skills for managing intense emotions and improving relationships. It emphasizes distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and clear communication, which can be useful for emotional overwhelm, impulsive reactions, and self-harm urges. Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to choose strategies that match their goals and preferences. Sessions begin with clear goals and adjust as those goals change. Online sessions offer flexible ways to fit therapy into life. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation and visual cues. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited or when someone needs a shorter check-in. Live chat and text-based messaging make it possible to send quick updates, ask brief questions between sessions, or work through tools in writing. These options help people balance appointments with work, caregiving, and busy days while still practicing CBT and DBT skills with a licensed professional.