Susan Trefts

Susan Trefts is an LCSW and LICSW licensed in Oregon and Washington with 21 years of professional experience. She works with adults who feel stuck, overwhelmed by stress or anxiety, or are coping with trauma, grief, or low self-esteem. Her practice also addresses compassion fatigue, body image concerns, communication problems, and questions about life purpose.

Susan centers the client's own perspective in sessions. She treats the person as the expert on their life and uses that knowledge to guide practical steps forward. Conversations focus on what feels most pressing right now and on small, manageable changes that can reduce daily strain.

Her approach draws on Client-Centered Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy. That means sessions mix open listening with skills work. Clients may practice ways to manage intense emotions and to notice patterns that get in the way of choices they want to make.

Susan helps people talk through grief, shame, and guilt without judgment. She also supports women dealing with self-love and forgiveness questions. Life purpose is an area she can explore with clients who are rethinking work or meaning after a change.

Sessions are practical and conversational. Expect straightforward feedback, collaborative planning, and skills you can try between meetings. To begin, people complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule a first session through the site.

How therapeutic approaches guide online sessions

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and understanding the client's experience. The therapist follows the client's lead, reflects what is said, and helps the client organize thoughts. This approach helps when someone is unsure what matters next and needs a clear space to sort ideas.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy, or DBT, brings practical skills for managing intense emotions. It includes breathing and grounding techniques, emotion regulation strategies, and ways to handle conflict or overwhelming stress. DBT is useful for people who want tools to reduce reactivity and improve day-to-day functioning.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with the client to decide which methods fit best for their situation, goals, and preferences. Sessions can mix listening, problem-solving, and skills practice depending on what the client needs.

Confirm the session formats available before booking, as the profile does not list specific delivery methods. Online sessions can make it easier to fit meetings into a busy schedule, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when needed. Discussing logistics during the initial scheduling step helps match practical needs with the therapeutic plan.