About Susan
Susan Hoffstetter is an Illinois licensed counselor who helps people facing stress, anxiety, depression, and the fallout of trauma. She draws on 16 years of clinical experience and meets people where they are. Her approach centers on practical steps and recognizing each person's strengths.
She aims to make the first steps feel manageable and respectful of the courage it takes to begin. In sessions she treats addictions, bipolar disorder, grief, anger, and struggles with self-esteem.
How Susan works
She also supports people dealing with relationship strain and family-related challenges, and helps those affected by natural or human-caused disasters. Obsessions, compulsions, sexual assault recovery, and trichotillomania are additional areas she addresses. Susan frames therapy as a collaboration.
She listens for what already works in a person's life and builds on those strengths. Conversations focus on clear goals, small changes, and tools people can use between sessions. Her background includes 16 years of professional practice as an Illinois LCPC - Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor.
That experience includes helping people move through crisis and rebuild routines that support daily functioning. Practical skills and steady support are central to her work. She offers straightforward guidance and problem-solving during sessions.
The tone is calm and encouraging, aimed at helping people regain stability and confidence. If someone is unsure about starting therapy, Susan recognizes that step as important. She helps new clients take it slowly and set realistic expectations for progress.
What Susan works with
The areas below are the ones Susan selected when setting up a profile. The first few are listed as the main focus; the rest are also named.
Also listed
- Anger management
- Bipolar disorder
- Coping with natural or human-caused disaster
- Depression
- Family conflicts
- Grief
- Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
- Relationship issues
- Self esteem
- Sexual assault and abuse
- Trichotillomania
Training and background
| Register | LCPC |
|---|---|
| Years in practice | 16 |
| Languages | English |
| Session format | Online: video, phone, live chat or messaging |
| Country | Illinois |
Memberships and registers are shown as supplied; they are not licences, and this directory does not verify them.
Online support options
Approaches and online options that fit your life
Susan works with evidence-based therapeutic techniques that focus on practical change. One common approach is cognitive-behavioral style work, which looks at thoughts and behaviors that keep problems going and teaches skills to shift them; this can help with anxiety, depression, obsessions, and compulsions. Another frequent focus is trauma-informed care, which helps people process past hurt at a pace they can handle and build coping strategies for triggers and distress.Choosing the best approach is part of the work together. The therapist listens to a person's goals, preferences, and life situation, then suggests strategies to try. Clients and the therapist review what helps and adjust the plan as needed, keeping the process collaborative and practical.
Online therapy is offered through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to make care more flexible. Video sessions let people read nonverbal cues and have a longer conversation. Phone sessions can be helpful when bandwidth is an issue or for a shorter check-in. Live chat and text messaging make it easier to fit support into a busy day or send quick updates between sessions. These options allow people to connect in the way that works best for their schedule and communication style.
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Common questions
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A practical next step
Write down two things you would want to be different in six months. That is the most useful thing to bring to a first session, whoever it is with. If you would rather start now than keep reading, online sessions are the quickest route.
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