Susan Ridenour

Susan Ridenour is an LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) in Missouri and an LSCSW (Licensed Specialist Clinical Social Worker) in Kansas with 35 years of clinical experience. She works primarily with adults ages 21 to 65. Her main areas include relationships, grief, career concerns, coping with life changes, and coaching. Ridenour draws on decades of work across the lifespan and in community settings. She has experience with aging and geriatric issues, chronic illness and cancer, caregiver stress, and family of origin concerns. She also addresses attachment issues, communication problems, codependency, and divorce and separation. Her style uses practical tools and exercises. She may offer worksheets and journaling prompts to prepare for and follow up on sessions. Sessions can include techniques from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Client-Centered therapy, Existential approaches, and Imago Relationship Therapy when appropriate to the person’s goals. Clients who bring workplace or leadership concerns may find her background helpful; she has years of leadership experience and has provided individualized coaching. She can work with people wondering about career direction, dealing with workplace stress, or managing transitions after a life change. Ridenour emphasizes clear communication and collaborative planning. She helps people talk through next steps, set manageable goals, and practice skills between meetings. Prospective clients should confirm current session formats and scheduling details before booking.

How her approaches translate to online work

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice what matters and take action toward those values. It focuses on accepting difficult thoughts while committing to manageable steps, which can help with grief, career change, or life transitions.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) addresses unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns by practicing new skills and small experiments. It is useful for managing stress, communication problems, and repetitive worry about decisions.

Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes listening and collaboration. The therapist follows the client’s lead, clarifies goals, and offers reflective feedback to help people make sense of what comes next.

Finding the right fit is treated as a collaborative process. The therapist will discuss approaches, try techniques that match the client’s needs, and adjust plans based on how the client responds. That shared decision-making helps prioritize practical steps and homework that fit daily life.

Confirm which session formats are currently offered before booking, since the biography does not list explicit formats. Online sessions can make it easier to fit meetings into a workday, reduce travel time, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and let people use journaling or worksheets between sessions. Discuss format preferences during the first scheduling step to pick what works best.