Paula Sussman , LCSW

Paula Sussman is a licensed clinical social worker with 30 years of experience helping people manage stress, anxiety, grief, and major life changes. She brings a calm, compassionate presence to sessions and values building a respectful, collaborative relationship. Paula works from Colorado and meets with people across the state.

Paula focuses on practical steps that fit each person's life. She listens for strengths and priorities, then helps craft small, doable strategies for coping and growth. Sessions often cover relationship concerns, self-esteem, caregiver strain, or challenges tied to aging, chronic illness, or bereavement.

Her style is warm and down-to-earth. Paula uses a gentle sense of humor alongside empathy to make difficult topics easier to talk about. She centers each person’s unique perspective and supports their ability to make meaningful change at their own pace.

People turn to Paula when they feel stuck by loneliness, guilt, or questions about life purpose and midlife shifts. She also helps those facing hospice, end-of-life decisions, or the stresses of caregiving. Her approach aims to reduce overwhelm and restore a sense of control and self-worth.

Pursuing therapy is a big step, and Paula invites questions about fit and scheduling. She meets people by video, phone, live chat, or text messaging, and works with clients throughout Colorado to find workable times and formats.

How Paula’s approaches work online

Client-Centered Therapy puts the person’s experience first. Paula listens closely and follows each client’s perspectives to shape sessions. This approach helps when people need a supportive space to talk through grief, loneliness, or questions about life purpose.

Motivational Interviewing focuses on helping people find their own reasons to change. It uses gentle, goal-oriented conversation to boost commitment and clarity about next steps. This can be useful for making steady progress with habits, caregiving decisions, or coping strategies.

Paula sees finding the right approach as a shared process. She will talk with clients about what feels helpful and adapt sessions to match goals and preferences. Together they decide whether to focus on short-term solutions, deeper exploration, or a mix of both.

Online formats offer practical benefits for people with busy schedules or mobility limits. Video calls let Paula and clients keep face-to-face connection when that matters. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth or camera use is limited. Live chat or text messaging supports quick check-ins, brief coaching, and ongoing reminders between sessions. These options make it easier to fit therapy into work, caregiving duties, or medical routines while maintaining continuity of care.