HOPE Therapist Spotlight: Susan D.
Updated: Aug 12, 2020
Get to know our HOPE Therapists!
Today we are featuring Susan DuBay, HOPE Marriage and Family Therapist Trainee:
Q:What type of therapy do you specialize in? A: I have been trained in Brainspotting and EMDR in addition to other modalities. I feel especially called to work with trauma as this is often the root of most difficulties. I have heard that trauma is ‘too much, too fast’ and occurs when a person feels coerced. With that in mind, I espouse a theoretical approach that is highly collaborative and relational. Research suggests, and I firmly believe, that each person when provided with supportive conditions can gain access to their own intuitive understanding of what they need to heal. It is my experience that this is true across the lifespan and I enjoy working with clients of all ages.
Q:What inspired you to become a therapist? A: Many years ago, I felt broken and lost, so I started therapy and entered a whole new world. I had wonderful practitioners who provided me with the encouragement, empathy, and practical tools that allowed me to mold my life into something that I loved. All of my relationships blossomed. I kept learning and researching and eventually felt called to turn my passion for robust mental wellness into a fulltime job! It was one of the best decisions of my life. I love this work and believe that every person should have access to the support that they need.
Q:Biggest myth about therapy? A:There are so many! For example, ‘Asking for help is weakness.’ I used to think that was true. I thought that people wouldn’t like me if I didn’t have it ‘together’ all of the time. One of the best things about therapy is that it debunks all of the myths about what it means to be human. For example, I have learned that perfectionism is isolation and that vulnerability leads to connection. These and many other myths are dissolved in the world of mental health.
Q:What are your favorite mental health books and/or resources you like to recommend to clients? A: Anything by Brene’ Brown. I also like to demystify Brainspotting and EMDR and so I share videos to help explain these ‘power modalities’ that have helped me and so many others recover from trauma and also enhance performance. Finally, I am a huge proponent of refining communication skills and find Marshall Rosenberg’s Nonviolent Communication and other resources invaluable especially in times of social change.
Read Susan’s full professional bio on our website here: https://www.hope-counselingcenter.org/meet-our-therapists