Susan Gallagher, LMHC

Susan Gallagher is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in Washington who uses practical, evidence-informed methods to help people manage stress, anxiety, mood concerns, and life transitions. She focuses on straightforward tools that people can use between sessions to feel steadier and more able to cope.

Susan works with concerns such as grief and loss, anger, low self-esteem, motivation struggles, and relationship and intimacy-related issues. She also supports people dealing with ADHD, bipolar disorder, depression, caregiver strain, and career-related stress. Additional focus areas include body image, attachment and abandonment concerns, communication problems, and issues related to gender and sexuality.

Her sessions are conversational and goal-oriented. She helps clients notice unhelpful thought patterns and test small changes in behavior. Together they set short-term goals and practical steps that fit into everyday life. Motivational interviewing and solution-focused techniques are used to keep work focused and doable.

Susan aims to create a calm, nonjudgmental space where people can talk about difficult feelings and try new coping skills. She emphasizes collaboration and respects each person’s pace when making changes. Her style is warm, direct, and focused on what will help most right now.

With eight years of professional experience, Susan draws from several approaches to match the work to each person’s needs. She helps clients build routines, manage emotions, and plan for next steps so they can move toward clearer priorities and more reliable daily functioning.

How CBT and ACT work in online therapy

Susan combines Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help people change unhelpful thinking and live by their values. CBT focuses on identifying thoughts and behaviors that keep problems going and testing small, doable changes to see what helps. ACT teaches skills to accept difficult feelings while committing to actions that match personal values and long-term goals.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work together. Susan will discuss what feels most useful and adapt methods to each person’s needs, goals, and preferences. The process is collaborative - she helps craft experiments and homework that fit daily life and checks in about what is working.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to provide flexibility. Video calls let people work more closely through exercises and nonverbal cues, while phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited or a shorter check-in is needed. Live chat or text messaging can support brief check-ins, ongoing coaching-style feedback, or notes between sessions. These options make it easier to fit therapy into busy schedules and to keep momentum between meetings.