- Focus on strengths
- Practical coping skills
- Calm steady presence
About Susan
Susan Hoffstetter is a licensed clinical professional counselor (LCPC) in Illinois with 16 years of experience. She focuses on helping people work through stress, anxiety, depression, addiction concerns, grief, anger, and issues with self-esteem. She also supports people coping with trauma and abuse, bipolar disorder, relationship and family concerns, and obsessive or compulsive behaviors.
Susan approaches therapy with the view that each person knows their own story best. She looks for strengths a person already has and builds on them. The first step can feel difficult, and she acknowledges the courage it takes to begin.
In sessions she offers steady, practical support and an opportunity to talk through what is worrying you. She helps people develop concrete skills to manage intense emotions, reduce anxiety, and handle triggers tied to trauma or addiction. The work often includes small, doable steps between meetings.
Her background includes long-term clinical experience working with people facing complex problems such as bipolar disorder or recovery from sexual assault and abuse. That experience informs how she tailors conversations and coping plans to each person’s needs.
People looking for help with family-related stress or parenting pressures will find that she pays attention to everyday challenges and routines. She focuses on clear goals and realistic strategies that fit into busy lives. If you want a calm, steady clinician to help map out next steps, Susan offers that steady presence.
To begin, she invites people to reflect on what they most want to change and to take the next step toward scheduling a first meeting.
Evidence-based tools and online support for daily challenges
Many people find it helpful when therapy uses proven techniques that teach practical skills. Evidence-based therapeutic techniques often include approaches that help people manage strong emotions, reduce anxiety, and address patterns that keep recurring. These approaches focus on clear steps you can practice between sessions and aim to make everyday situations feel more manageable.Another common approach within evidence-based work emphasizes building on strengths and problem-solving. This style helps people identify what already works for them and then add small, realistic changes. It can be useful for stress, grief, relationship strain, and coping after disaster or trauma.
Finding the right approach is part of the process. The therapist will work collaboratively to decide which techniques fit your needs, goals, and preferences. That means you and the therapist will try methods, review what helps, and adjust the plan together.
If you want therapy online, confirm the specific session options before booking since formats are not listed here. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into busy days, reduce travel time, and allow for shorter check-ins when needed. They can also let you meet from a quiet place that suits your schedule and reduce disruptions around appointments.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Experience
16+ years
Listed in
Illinois
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she help with?
Susan works with stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, bipolar disorder, depression, relationship and family concerns, grief, anger, and self-esteem struggles. She also has additional focus on disaster coping, OCD and related obsessions, sexual assault and abuse, and trichotillomania.
What is her therapy style like?
She treats people as the expert on their own story and emphasizes practical steps. Sessions focus on talking through problems, building on strengths, and learning concrete coping skills.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 16 years of professional work experience in clinical settings and community care, which shapes how she adapts support to different concerns.
What credentials and location apply?
She is an LCPC, licensed in Illinois. Her practice is based in Illinois.
Which languages are supported?
Sessions are offered in English.
Does she work with international clients?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How does billing or cost work?
Cost varies by location and therapist availability, and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I get started with therapy?
Select the Start Therapy button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.