About Us

Founder/Therapist

My mission is to help you discover more of who you are and, through counseling and therapy, help you to work toward personal goals to make your life more fulfilling. My focus will always be on helping you to have a fuller, more authentic, creative, productive and spirited life in and out of your relationships.

Psychotherapy is an art to be practiced and refined, as is life. I am an artist both in my own journey and in my work as a psychotherapist. Let’s open the door to possibilities together and see what we can find inside of you that needs healing and that will bring you to a happier and more fulfilling life.

In 1989, I started working at Caron Treatment Centers in Pennsylvania (then called The Caron Foundation and Chit Chat Farms.) It was there that I discovered my passion and joy in helping people find more of themselves and witnessing the magical results of that journey. At Caron, I worked in the five-day Group Experiential Program that specialized in working with Codependency, ACOA (Adult Children of Alcoholics), Addictions, Childhood Trauma, and issues of feeling stuck in your life.

In 1992, I moved back to New York City (where I was born and raised) to begin my Private Psychotherapy Practice. While establishing my practice, I also designed and implemented an Intensive Outpatient Treatment Program (IOP) for Drugs, Alcohol and Mental Health issues, for Mediplex-United Hospital in New Rochelle, NY.

In 1999, now a decade out of Graduate School, I made a difficult but important decision to relocate to Washington, DC and begin a Private Practice here. It was a big leap to leave my family and all that was familiar to start over, but I was following my heart and listening to my soul which told me it was time to make this change, this leap, and I did it with excitement and wonder.

In June of 2021 I became Chief Clinical Officer and joined the team at Verve Behavioral Health to help create and open a substance use, co-occurring, and mental health outpatient treatment program in Washington, DC. In March of 2024 I was named as a Partner in this successful program which opened in June of 2023.

Click here to learn more about Verve Behavioral Health »

My work now entails Individual counseling and therapy, couples and marriage and relationship counseling, group therapy, drug and alcohol treatment, psychodynamic clinical supervision for social workers in DC and drug and alcohol counselors specialized work with impaired professionals, athletes and military personnel, both active and retired.

If you’re seeking a higher level of care beyond psychotherapy for substance abuse, co-occurring disorders, and mental health issues, there are several options you might consider:

1. Inpatient Rehabilitation Centers: These provide intensive, 24-hour care in a residential setting. They offer structured treatment programs including therapy, counseling, medication management, and medical support. Susan can consult with you to find the right residential program for you if that’s what you need.
2. Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP): PHPs offer structured treatment during the day but allow patients to return home in the evenings. They provide a higher level of care than outpatient programs but allow for more flexibility than inpatient treatment.

   Structured Sober Living can also be a component of PHP level of care and Susan can help connect you to The Palisades House in Washington DC, which has support services, chef prepared meals, beautiful living arrangements and the welcoming structure to help you in your daily program while you attend treatment at The Verve.

3. Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP): IOPs provide more intensive treatment than traditional outpatient therapy. Patients typically attend sessions several times a week for several hours each session, allowing them to maintain some level of daily routine.
4. Dual Diagnosis Treatment is combining Substance Use Disorders with Mental Health conditions and can be found in Residential Txt centers, PHP’s and IOP’s. These facilities specialize in treating both substance abuse disorders and co-occurring mental health disorders. They provide integrated treatment plans that address both issues simultaneously.

When seeking a higher level of care for substance abuse and mental health treatment, it’s important to consider factors such as the severity of the issues, individual needs, and preferences, as well as the level of support available from friends and family.

Learn more about Verve Behavioral Health »

Fields of Expertise

Working with people who are 17 and older, I have specialized training in working with people struggling with or recovering from:

• Alcohol and or Drug use/abuse, dependence, and addiction
• Process Addictions
• Childhood trauma and abuse
• Relationship Issues
• Couples and Marriage counseling
• Emotional Incest
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Codependency
• Consultation: Clinical Consultation; Clinical Supervision; Substance Use and Addiction/Treatment Center Consultation

During therapy, I will help you to:

• Discover more of yourself and heal your psychological wounds
• Enhance your personal growth and creativity
• Improve the quality of the relationships you have with yourself and others
• Open the door to possibilities…

I look forward to meeting with you to discuss how we might be able to work together.

All the best,
Susan
To contact Susan, please call (202) 333-1787 or e-mail her here.

Susan has been recognized as one of “Washington’s best in Substance Abuse & Addiction Treatment” by the Washingtonian Magazine and also received the “Addiction Professional Award” from Caron Treatment Centers.