Susan Schwerd, LCPC

Susan Schwerd is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor practicing in Maryland. She brings 24 years of experience helping people handle stress, anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, and life changes. Her background includes work with chronic pain, cancer, and issues that follow injury or illness. She uses a psychodynamic foundation while staying active and practical in sessions. Susan mixes psychodynamic ideas with solution-focused techniques and hypnotherapy to help people notice patterns and try new responses. She also uses clinical hypnosis and breathing practices as tools when they fit a person's goals. Before private practice, she worked in outpatient mental health settings and served as an assistant clinical director. She also spent a decade as a human resources director, which influences her coaching work around career and professional productivity. That experience informs short-term goals and practical problem solving. Sessions tend to focus on identifying repeating behavior patterns, developing coping skills for emotions and physical symptoms, and learning simple self-regulation techniques. Susan often integrates short-term coaching with deeper exploration of life stories to support lasting change. She shares exercises people can use between visits to manage sleep, anger, and stress. People who are coping with chronic illness, post-traumatic stress, veteran-related challenges, or major life transitions may find this style helpful. Online visits include live video and phone options; confirm current session arrangements before booking. Background and approach notes: Susan holds a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology and maintains her LCPC in Maryland. She aims to be collaborative and practical while also exploring the underlying reasons people feel stuck.

How her approaches translate to online work

Psychodynamic Therapy helps people look at repeating life patterns and how past relationships influence present feelings. Online sessions can use talk-based reflection to uncover those patterns and decide on different responses.

Solution-Focused Therapy zeroes in on concrete goals and small steps that show quick progress. This approach can be useful for managing stress, sleep, or work-related problems by practicing new behaviors between sessions.

Hypnotherapy and clinical hypnosis involve guided relaxation and focused attention to help with anxiety, pain, and sleep. In an online setting Susan may teach self-hypnosis and breathing practices people can use on their own to cope with symptoms between sessions.

Finding the right mix is collaborative. The therapist will work with the client to choose which methods to try based on needs, goals, and what feels comfortable. Plans can be adjusted as progress is made.

The biography indicates she offers Live Video and Phone sessions, so ask to confirm the exact session formats before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit appointments into a busy day, reduce travel time, and allow follow-up coaching or short check-ins that support real-life practice without promising a particular outcome.