Susan Futterman , LMFT

Susan Futterman is a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) in California who uses attachment-based and trauma-focused approaches to help people manage painful life events. She brings 11 years of clinical experience to conversations about grief, trauma, anxiety, and depression. Her voice is calm and direct, and she focuses on what people can do between sessions to feel steadier.

In sessions she pays attention to early relationship patterns and how they shape current reactions. That perspective helps with abandonment, attachment issues, and relationship concerns. She also brings trauma-focused and somatic ideas to work through the body’s responses after assault or abuse.

Her work is practical and relationship-centered. She helps people name what is happening, track patterns, and build small changes that ease symptoms like panic attacks or mood shifts. She also supports people dealing with grief and the long, confusing effects of loss.

Susan has supported clients through career stress, money worries, and shame related to past events. She uses psychodynamic thinking to look for repeated themes that cause distress and existential ideas to help people find meaning during big life changes.

Sessions are offered in English and take place online by video, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging. She does not take international clients. The subscription model she uses can be canceled at any time.

How her approaches translate to online therapy

Susan often uses attachment-based work online to trace how early relationship patterns influence current stress and relationship struggles. That approach focuses on recognizing repeated interaction styles and practicing new ways of relating that reduce anxiety and improve connection.

She also uses trauma-focused methods that break down traumatic memories into manageable parts and address how the body holds onto threat. This work can include grounding and somatic strategies to reduce panic and reactivity after painful events.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will talk with the client about goals, symptoms, and day-to-day needs, then tailor methods together. This collaborative process helps decide whether attachment, trauma-focused, psychodynamic, or somatic techniques will be most useful.

Online formats offer practical advantages. Video calls allow real-time conversation and visual cues. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth or camera use is an issue. Live chat and text-based messaging support brief check-ins, ongoing reflection, or flexible scheduling during busy days. These options make it simpler to fit therapy into work, caregiving, or travel plans while keeping the focus on progress.