Susan VanHuizen , LMSW

Susan VanHuizen is a licensed master social worker (LMSW) based in Michigan with 20 years of clinical experience. She focuses on practical strategies for stress, anxiety, depression, and addiction. Susan aims to help people rebuild confidence and find purpose after major life changes.

Her work often centers on real-life problems like coping with divorce, chronic illness, and financial strain. She also supports people dealing with codependency, family of origin issues, and feelings of isolation or emptiness. Sessions emphasize straightforward tools for daily life rather than abstract theory.

Susan uses techniques drawn from cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy to change unhelpful thinking and improve emotional regulation. She pairs these with mindfulness and motivational interviewing to increase self-awareness and strengthen motivation for change. The mix is tailored to each person's goals and situation.

In sessions she helps people set concrete goals, practice new coping skills, and work through shame, guilt, or low self-esteem. She offers guidance for navigating addiction and recovery, including issues around drug and alcohol use. Her approach is steady and focused on small, manageable steps.

Susan has worked with adults facing aging and geriatric concerns, chronic pain and disability, and the fallout of domestic violence. She aims to create a calm setting where people can talk through tough decisions and move toward clearer choices.

How Susan’s Approaches Work Online

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) focuses on skills for managing strong emotions and improving relationships. Online DBT work often emphasizes short skill-building exercises, emotion regulation techniques, and practical tools to reduce impulsive behavior.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) targets the thoughts and behaviors that keep problems going. In virtual sessions this looks like identifying unhelpful thinking, trying out new behaviors between meetings, and reviewing what changed over time.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Susan will talk with each person about their goals, preferences, and daily life to decide which methods to try first. The plan can be adjusted as progress is made so methods match what works best for the individual.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video is useful for deeper conversation and real-time skill practice. Phone sessions can be a good option when bandwidth is limited or a simpler check-in is needed. Live chat and text allow brief check-ins, journaling prompts, and step-by-step coaching between longer sessions. These options make therapy more flexible for work schedules, caregiving demands, and people managing chronic health issues.