Susan Ryder

Calm, practical, collaborative therapy

LCPC Maine

Experience: 17 years in practice
Focus areas: Stress, Anxiety, Self esteem, Depression
Approaches: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Client-Centered Therapy
Languages: English

About Susan

Susan Ryder brings 17 years of clinical experience to her practice as an LCPC based in Maine. She centers her work on evidence-informed methods such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy while honoring each person as the expert on their own life.

Background and approach

Her style emphasizes collaboration and listening, helping clients identify strengths and practical strategies to face anxiety, depression, stress, and life transitions. She works with people confronting a wide range of concerns including motivation and self-esteem struggles, grief and coping with change, compassion fatigue and caregiver stress, and a variety of relationship and intimacy-related issues.

Addictions and process behaviors, ADHD, parenting challenges, and seasonal mood shifts are also within her focus, alongside complicated family dynamics like blended family issues, divorce, and communication problems. Susan values a client-centered stance that combines goal-focused techniques with narrative and motivational approaches to foster meaningful progress.

Prospective clients in Maine can expect a respectful, strengths-oriented partnership aimed at practical coping skills and clearer direction during difficult periods.

Therapeutic approaches adapted for online care

Many clients benefit from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which focuses on identifying unhelpful thinking patterns and testing new behaviors to reduce anxiety, depression, and stress. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes empathy, validation, and a nonjudgmental space where the client’s perspective guides the work and builds self-trust. Motivational Interviewing helps people clarify their own values and increase intrinsic motivation to change habits related to addiction, health, or life transitions.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will work with each person to explore needs, goals, and preferences, and may integrate elements from different methods to match what feels most useful and realistic for the client’s situation.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, which make scheduling more flexible and allow therapy to fit into busy lives. These options let clients access licensed professionals from home or other locations within the therapist's service area, supporting consistent progress even when in-person visits are difficult.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does this therapist commonly address?

Susan works with a broad range of issues including stress, anxiety, depression, self-esteem, motivation, grief, relationship and family problems, addictions and process behaviors, ADHD, and caregiving or aging-related concerns.

What is the overall therapeutic approach and style?

The practice blends client-centered listening with evidence-informed techniques such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, motivational interviewing, narrative work, and solution-focused strategies to support practical change and personal insight.

How much clinical experience does the therapist have?

The therapist has 17 years of professional experience working with diverse emotional and life challenges across outpatient and counseling settings.

What are the therapist's credentials and location?

The clinician is licensed as an LCPC in Maine with the designation ME LCPC CC2739 and practices locally in that state.

Are sessions available in other languages or for international clients?

Sessions are provided in English, and international clients are not currently accepted.

Which session formats are offered for working together?

Appointments can take place via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to accommodate different needs and schedules.

How are fees and payment structured?

Costs vary by location and therapist availability; services use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

What are the first steps to begin therapy?

To get started, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions according to therapist availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, Anxiety Self esteem Depression Coping with life changes Compassion fatigue

Also works with

AddictionsRelationship issuesFamily conflictsGriefIntimacy-related issuesParenting issuesAnger managementADHD

Additional focus areas

Aging and geriatric issuesBlended family issuesCaregiver issues and stressCommunication problemsDivorce and separationFamily problemsFirst responder issuesForgivenessHospice and end-of-life counselingInfidelityIsolation / lonelinessLife purposePostpartum depressionProcess addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-loveWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Motivational InterviewingNarrative TherapySolution-Focused Therapy

Experience

17+ years

Licensed

Maine

Languages

English