Dr. Susan Harris , LPC

Dr. Susan Harris is a Licensed Professional Counselor with 25 years of experience in addiction and mental health work. She focuses on stress, anxiety, depression, addictions, trauma and abuse, grief, self-esteem, relationship and anger concerns. Her approach is straightforward and practical, aimed at helping people regain control and feel more able to cope with life changes.

She uses a person-centered style that treats each person as an individual. Sessions often focus on building skills and habits that make daily life easier. She combines practical tools with attention to emotions and personal values.

Dr. Harris draws on cognitive behavioral techniques to help people notice and change unhelpful thinking and behavior. She also uses dialectical behavior therapy skills for emotional regulation and mindfulness practices to increase present-moment awareness.

Motivational interviewing is part of her toolkit when people are weighing change or struggling with substance use. That approach helps clarify goals and boosts the client’s own motivation to make lasting changes.

Her work reflects long experience in addiction treatment alongside general mental health care. She practices in Arizona and conducts sessions in English. Many people come to her for help with grief, process addictions, family of origin issues, caregiver stress, and mood disorders. The focus is on practical, manageable steps that fit each person’s life.

How her approaches translate to online therapy

Dr. Harris commonly uses client-centered work and cognitive behavioral therapy online. Client-centered therapy focuses on listening, understanding a person’s experience, and helping them set their own goals. It suits people who need a responsive, accepting space to sort feelings and priorities. Cognitive behavioral therapy helps identify unhelpful thoughts and habits and replace them with clearer, more effective patterns; it is useful for anxiety, depression, and many stress-related problems.

She also brings dialectical behavior therapy skills into sessions when emotion regulation or strong mood swings are a concern. DBT skills teach practical tools for grounding, managing intense feelings, and improving interpersonal effectiveness. Together these approaches give both supportive listening and concrete skills work that can be practiced between sessions.

Online formats make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life. Video calls allow face-to-face interaction for skill demonstrations and deeper conversation. Phone sessions can be a good option when a lower-bandwidth or camera-free check-in is needed. Live chat and text-based messaging can serve for short check-ins, quick coping strategies, or ongoing support between longer sessions. The therapist works collaboratively to choose formats and techniques that match a person’s goals, schedule, and preferences.