PuttingFamilyFirst

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SJ Portrait of Susan Johnston
Online therapist

Susan Johnston

Helping families rebuild routines and hope

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Credentials
LMFT
Experience
8 years
Licensed in
Indiana, California
Languages
English
Format
Online sessions

About Susan

Susan Johnston is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) practicing in Indiana with eight years of clinical experience. She started therapy training as a returning adult student and has built a varied background across settings. Her work has included outpatient offices, residential and group homes, inpatient mental health care, and college counseling environments.

She presents as practical and straightforward when talking with families and individuals about what they need.

Background and approach

Johnston draws on experience in addiction treatment and has helped people and families reestablish hope and healthy routines. She has also worked with couples and families from diverse backgrounds, including immigrant and refugee households, often collaborating with professional interpreters to respect language and culture. She keeps sessions focused on real-world steps rather than jargon.

Her clinical perspective mixes humanistic and experiential ideas with cognitive work and family systems thinking. That means she pays attention to emotions and relationships while also helping people change thinking patterns that get in the way. Sessions look at how family roles and patterns shape current struggles.

Susan aims to build a team approach with clients, tailoring support to each family or individual. She explains options, listens for what matters most, and helps set clear, achievable goals. Her style is collaborative and goal-oriented.

Parents who come for help around parenting, relationships, or major life changes will find straightforward guidance and practical suggestions. She uses conversational, plain language so people can act on what they discuss in sessions.

Therapeutic approaches suited to online family work

Many of Susan's methods focus on feelings, relationships, and practical change. Humanistic-informed work centers on listening and helping people feel heard, which can ease family tensions and support self esteem. Experiential techniques invite families to notice emotions and try new ways of interacting in the moment, useful for improving connection and resolving repeated arguments.

She also uses cognitive-oriented strategies to help people identify unhelpful thoughts and test different ways of thinking. Those techniques are helpful for reducing anxiety, managing anger, and coping with life changes. Together these approaches address both what people feel and how they act within their family system.

Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the process. The therapist collaborates with each person or family to decide which techniques fit their goals, needs, and comfort level. Clients help shape the plan and can adjust focus as progress is made.

Online therapy offers practical benefits for busy families. Video sessions allow face-to-face conversation without commuting, while phone calls add flexibility. Live chat and text-based messaging can be useful for check-ins, homework support, or brief problem-solving between sessions. These options make it easier to keep continuity of care and work on concrete changes in daily life.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does she commonly address?
Susan works with a wide range of issues including stress, anxiety, relationship and family problems, parenting, addictions, grief, trauma and abuse, self esteem, depression, career concerns, anger, intimacy issues, and LGBT-related matters.
What is her typical therapy style?
Her approach combines humanistic and experiential ideas with cognitive work and family systems thinking. She focuses on emotions, family patterns, and practical steps families can try between sessions.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has eight years of experience working in settings such as outpatient offices, residential and group homes, inpatient care, intensive outpatient treatment, probation services, and college counseling.
What are her professional credentials and where is she located?
She is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. License details include CA LMFT 124610 and IN LMFT 35001958A. Her practice is based in Indiana.
Which languages are offered for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English. She has experience working with immigrant and refugee families using professional interpreters when needed.
What session formats are available?
Sessions can take place by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging depending on what fits a family's needs.
How does cost and payment work?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability, and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin the process?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions based on the therapist's listed availability.

Specialties and expertise

Top specialties

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Experience
8 years
Licensed
Indiana, California
Languages
English

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