Susan Zacharias

Experienced clinician guiding trauma and life change recovery

About Susan

Susan Zacharias works with people experiencing stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, low self-esteem, depression, and difficulty coping with life changes. She frames those struggles as common parts of life’s journey and aims to help clients find practical paths forward.

Background and approach

With two decades of counseling experience and a broader 40-year background in health care, she combines clinical knowledge with an appreciation for personal and spiritual growth. Susan takes time to understand each individual rather than relying on a single method for everyone.

She commonly uses Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and guided imagery to uncover underlying concerns, and she adapts other evidence-informed techniques when they better suit a person’s needs. She respects mutual choice in recovery supports, acknowledging 12 step programs can be effective for some people while not being the right fit for others.

Practical resources such as handouts are provided to guide sessions and support learning between meetings, and she expresses a warm openness to meeting people at whatever point they are in their life journey.

Therapeutic approaches and online care

EMDR, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, uses guided attention and memory processing to help reduce the intensity of distressing memories and related symptoms. It is often applied when past experiences continue to affect daily functioning and emotional responses.

Psychodynamic therapy explores patterns in thoughts, feelings, and relationships to uncover how past experiences shape present behavior and inner life. This approach can help people gain insight and make different choices in how they relate to themselves and others.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will work with clients to assess needs, goals, and preferences and adapt methods over time so the treatment fits the individual's situation rather than forcing one technique to do everything.

Online therapy with this practice offers flexible options including video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. These formats make it easier to schedule care around work and family commitments, allow continuity when in-person meetings are difficult, and support ongoing work between synchronous sessions. Licensed professionals can use these tools to maintain consistent contact and progress toward therapeutic goals in ways that match each client's life and pace.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does this therapist address?

The practice focuses on stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, self-esteem struggles, depression, and coping with life changes. These areas are central to the clinician's work.

What therapeutic approach is typically used in sessions?

The clinician integrates trauma-focused approaches with EMDR and psychodynamic ideas, tailoring methods to each person's needs and preferences. Techniques are chosen collaboratively rather than applied uniformly.

How much experience does the therapist have?

The clinician brings 20 years of professional counseling experience and a total of 40 years working in health care settings. That background informs a long-term view of emotional and spiritual growth.

What credentials and location details are listed?

Susan holds an LCPC credential with the registration IL LCPC 180.011955 and practices in Illinois. Those credential and location facts are provided exactly as listed.

Is therapy available in other languages or to international clients?

Sessions are offered in English only, and international clients are not currently accepted. Services are limited to the stated language and geographic availability.

Which session formats are offered online?

The clinician provides video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to accommodate different communication preferences and schedules.

How are fees and subscriptions handled?

Costs vary with location and therapist availability, and sessions are delivered through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time. Fee details depend on the client’s circumstances.

What steps are required to begin therapy?

To get started, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule appointments according to the therapist's availability. The matching process helps connect you to the clinician.

Specialties and expertise

Top specialties

Also works with

Therapeutic approaches

Experience: 20 years
Licensed: Illinois
Languages: English