Susan Knoedel, LCSW

Whether you have concerns that are very specific and recent or have been living with them for many years, I can help you improve your mood or settle your anxiety, loosen the hold of upsetting memories or self-critical thoughts, develop richer, more trusting relationships, or improve your effectiveness in work or school. I tailor therapy to your individual strengths, concerns, personality, and goals, so you leave treatment with more effective ways to understand, work with and resolve problems. As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and psychotherapist for over 25 years, I have helped hundreds of men and women successfully move through their problems.

My primary focus and commitment over the past 25 years has been helping people recover from trauma. This may mean working on PTSD, depression, anxiety or panic, self-esteem problems, relationship issues, or difficulties with work and school.

In addition to my commitment to treating trauma, my personal experience navigating the demands specific to doing clinical work in a hospital has left me deeply invested in helping healthcare providers of all kinds sustainably manage the pressures of their work, in part by reconnecting with what drew them to their professions in the first place.

The foundation of our work together is a safe, therapeutic relationship. I am moved by the resilience of my clients, and believe more is right with you than wrong with you. I tailor our approach to your specific needs rather than simply treating a diagnosis. We might work with beliefs that are not helpful or perhaps even accurate anymore, with strengthening your internal voice, with new ways to relate to yourself and others, or with connecting with your values as a way to make choices that bring you more satisfaction and energy. You can learn to use your thoughts and feelings as sources of information, without them being the only things that run your life and relationships.

My early clinical work was at the UW Counseling Center, the UW Residence Halls and the Rape Crisis Center. For nearly 25 years after that I worked in the PTSD and General Mental Health Clinics at the VA, where I also developed and led the Women’s Stress Disorders Treatment Team, the Evidence-Based Psychotherapy Clinic, and the Women’s Mental Health Clinic, and provided clinical supervision to trainees and staff Social Workers.

I am confident I can help you make meaningful, lasting changes in your life. Please leave me a message on my confidential voicemail 608-255-8838 ext. 11 or 626-842-3096 and I will return your call. You can also send an mail to susan.knoedel@therapyemail.com.  Please include your name and phone number in any correspondence.

I look forward to talking with you about how I might help.