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SM Portrait of Susan Merletti

Susan Merletti

Compassionate clinician with decades of experience

LPCC California

Experience
39 years in practice
Focus areas
Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Trauma and abuse
Approaches
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Client-Centered Therapy
Languages
English
Continue with Susan

About Susan

Susan Merletti is an LPCC licensed in California with 39 years of professional experience supporting people through stress, anxiety, depression, relationship struggles, chronic illness, and unresolved trauma.

Background and approach

She draws on a long clinical background to help clients identify strengths within their life stories and to build practical skills that reduce distress and improve daily functioning. Her approach acknowledges clients as experts in their own lives while offering guidance and evidence-informed tools.

Therapy with Susan blends talk-based exploration with structured strategies rooted in cognitive behavioral and mindfulness-informed approaches, alongside client-centered listening and psychodynamic perspectives when helpful. She emphasizes collaboration, helping clients move toward greater self-understanding, healthier patterns, and clearer goals.

Prospective clients can expect an encouraging, steady presence aimed at restoring balance, coping capacity, and a stronger sense of purpose.

How therapeutic approaches translate online



Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful thought patterns and developing practical strategies to change behaviors and emotional responses; it can be useful for anxiety, depression, stress, and coping with life changes. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes empathic listening and support, helping people explore their experience at their own pace and strengthen their sense of self and agency in making life decisions.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and the therapist works collaboratively with clients to determine whether structured skill-building, reflective exploration, or a combination best fits their needs, goals, and preferences. This shared decision-making helps shape treatment plans and ongoing adjustments as progress is made.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, making it easier to schedule regular sessions around work, medical care, or caregiving responsibilities. These formats support continuity of care and allow clients to access licensed professionals from their own location while maintaining a consistent therapeutic relationship.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does she commonly address?
Susan works with a range of issues including stress, anxiety, depression, relationship and intimacy challenges, trauma and abuse, grief, addictions, compassion fatigue, body image, chronic illness, and related concerns.
What therapeutic style can I expect in sessions?
Sessions are collaborative and strengths-focused, combining client-centered listening with structured techniques such as cognitive behavioral and mindfulness-based strategies to address thoughts, emotions, and behavior.
How much clinical experience does the therapist have?
She brings 39 years of professional experience working with a broad range of mental health and life challenges, including long-term work with trauma and chronic illness.
Where is the therapist licensed and what are the credentials?
The clinician is licensed as an LPCC in California, holding credential number CA LPCC 1253.
Can I work with this therapist if I live outside the United States?
International clients are not currently accepted; she provides services to clients located within the scope of her California licensing.
Which session formats are available for online work?
Available formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to accommodate different preferences and needs.
How is cost handled for sessions?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions are provided through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What are the steps to begin therapy with her?
Begin by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule a session according to the therapist's availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesTrauma and abuseDepression

Also works with

AddictionsLGBTFamily conflictsGriefIntimacy-related issuesEating disordersSleeping disordersAnger managementSelf esteemCareer difficultiesCoping with life changesCompassion fatigue

Additional focus areas

Body imageCancerChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCodependencyCommunication problemsFamily of origin issuesGender dysphoriaHospice and end-of-life counselingLife purposeMood disordersPolyamory / non-monogamous relationshipsPost-traumatic stressSelf-loveSexual assault and abuseSexualityWomen's issues

Therapeutic approaches

Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Mindfulness TherapyPsychodynamic Therapy

Experience

39+ years

Licensed

California

Languages

English