Susan Broderick , LCSW

Susan Broderick is an Illinois Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with 20 years of experience. She focuses on practical, compassionate care for people dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, mood disorders, trauma, and ADHD. She emphasizes approachability and clear steps so starting therapy feels manageable.

Her style centers on Client-Centered Therapy, which means she listens first and tailors sessions to what matters most to the person in front of her. She also uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help identify thinking patterns that add to anxiety or low mood, and Solution-Focused Therapy to set clear, achievable goals. These methods are used to address panic, post-traumatic stress, bipolar challenges, and mood swings.

Susan helps people who are navigating chronic pain, illness, or disability, and those coping with isolation or major life transitions such as midlife change or questions about life purpose. She also supports concerns around pregnancy and childbirth and social anxiety. Her approach mixes practical tools with steady support so progress feels tangible.

Sessions are offered in English and delivered through video, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging. Decisions about pace and focus are made together, and she aims to create a warm, nonjudgmental space for honest conversation. Susan encourages small steps and clearer direction as clients move toward their goals.

Beginning therapy can feel hard, and she recognizes that first step. She invites people to start with a short matching questionnaire, then schedule in a way that fits their life and needs.

How therapeutic approaches fit into online care

Susan uses Client-Centered Therapy to build a conversation around a person's needs, focusing on listening and responding to what they say. This approach helps people feel heard and guides the pace and focus of sessions rather than following a fixed script.

She also draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which looks at the connections between thoughts, feelings, and actions. CBT offers practical exercises and homework that can reduce anxiety, manage panic, and address depressive patterns in everyday life.

Solution-Focused Therapy is used to identify small, achievable changes and quick steps toward specific goals. This method is helpful for people who want clear direction and measurable progress in a relatively short time.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Susan will help figure out which combination of methods fits the client's needs, goals, and preferences. Sessions begin with listening and planning so therapy feels useful from the start.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video is useful for longer, face-to-face conversations, while phone calls can work when bandwidth is limited. Live chat or text messaging is helpful for brief check-ins, momentary coping strategies, or when a shorter, more flexible option is needed. These formats make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life and to continue work between sessions.