Susan Ryder, LCPC

Susan Ryder is a licensed clinical professional counselor (LCPC) practicing in Maine with 17 years of experience. She focuses on everyday struggles like stress, anxiety, low self-esteem, depression, and coping with life changes. She also helps people facing caregiver strain, grief, relationship and intimacy issues, and addiction-related concerns.

Susan approaches therapy believing each person knows their story best. She builds on a person’s strengths and works alongside them to find what helps. She uses straightforward talk and practical strategies so clients can try things between sessions.

Susan uses several therapeutic styles to match what a person needs. She leans on Client-Centered methods to follow a client’s pace, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to identify and change unhelpful thinking and behavior, and Motivational Interviewing when people want help finding the drive to change.

She invites a practical, respectful collaboration where goals are clear and actions are small and doable. To begin, people select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.

How her approaches translate to online work

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and following what matters to the person. It emphasizes being heard, naming strengths, and letting the client lead while the therapist reflects and supports what comes up. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors connect and uses simple experiments or tasks to change patterns that cause distress. Motivational Interviewing helps when someone is unsure about change by exploring values and building motivation for steps forward.

Finding the right approach is part of starting therapy. The therapist will talk with the person about goals, preferences, and what feels most useful, then try methods that fit those needs. That process is collaborative and can change as goals evolve.

The practical benefits of online work include fitting sessions into a busy life and keeping momentum between appointments. Online options can make it easier to schedule shorter check-ins, reduce travel time, or choose a meeting style that matches one’s energy level. Confirm current session options before booking so you know what formats are available and can pick what best fits your routine.