Susan Bowes

Compassionate LCSW guiding change and healing

About Susan

Susan Bowes is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) based in Illinois who focuses on LGBT concerns, grief, self-esteem, coping with life changes, and compassion fatigue. With 15 years of practice, she supports people navigating loss, shifts in identity, and challenges to motivation and confidence.

Background and approach

Her work also addresses chronic pain, long-term illness or disability, control issues, forgiveness, guilt and shame, life purpose, self-love, and sexuality. Susan cultivates an open, nonjudgmental space where clients can explore difficult emotions and practical struggles.

She emphasizes collaborative conversation and careful listening to help clients name what matters and identify manageable steps forward. Beginning therapy can feel daunting, and she acknowledges the courage it takes to seek help while offering steady professional support aimed at fostering clarity, resilience, and greater self-compassion.

Evidence-based approaches and flexible online care

Many evidence-based therapeutic techniques aim to help people process emotions and develop practical coping skills. For example, cognitive-based strategies focus on identifying and reframing unhelpful thoughts to reduce their impact on mood and behavior, which can be useful for self-esteem, guilt, shame, and control issues. Another common approach emphasizes emotion-focused work that helps people sit with and make sense of grief, compassion fatigue, and experiences tied to sexuality or life purpose.

Finding the right approach is treated as a collaborative process. The therapist will work with each client to explore what feels most helpful, tailor interventions to personal goals, and adjust methods over time so the work aligns with changing needs and preferences.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. These options allow clients to access licensed professionals from home or other convenient locations, fit sessions into busy schedules, and maintain continuity of care when life circumstances shift. The combination of thoughtful clinical work and multiple remote formats aims to make therapy more accessible and manageable for different lifestyles.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does Susan commonly address?

She provides support for LGBT issues, grief and loss, self-esteem, coping with life changes, and compassion fatigue, along with related topics such as chronic pain, control issues, forgiveness, and sexuality.

What is her therapeutic style like?

Her approach centers on creating an open, nonjudgmental environment where clients can share thoughts and feelings and work collaboratively to identify goals and next steps.

How much clinical experience does she have?

She has 15 years of professional experience working with the concerns listed in her profile.

Where is she licensed and based?

Susan holds an Illinois LCSW with license number IL LCSW 149011825 and practices in Illinois.

Does she provide services in other languages or to international clients?

She provides services in English and is not currently accepting international clients.

What session formats are available for working with her?

Sessions can be scheduled as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to accommodate different preferences.

How are sessions billed and what does therapy cost?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

How does someone begin working with her?

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

Specialties and expertise

Top specialties

Also works with

Experience: 15 years
Licensed: Illinois
Languages: English