Karen Sussan
LCSW, LMHC
Writing on trauma, EMDR and DBR, attachment, grief, and the ordinary questions people bring to therapy. Some posts answer questions clients ask often. Others are things I have been thinking about.
Dolly Parton said she stopped caring for her own health while caring for her husband. Karen Sussan, LCSW, LMHC, on why a caregiver’s own care counts.
When I tell people that EMDR and DBR do not require them to narrate their trauma in detail, I often get the same response: a pause, then something like…
You have done the work. You know where the anxiety comes from. You can trace the pattern back to childhood, name the attachment wound, and explain the…
My colleague, Agnes Wohl, Trauma Specialist, granted me permission to share a post she created. Many people wonder what is realistic to expect from…
Everyone laughed. Everyone except you. And if you said something, if you let it show that it landed wrong, that became the next joke. You were too…
Ideally, people leave therapy because they are ready. They have done the work they came to do, they see they have made changes and feel different from…
You knew, before you opened your mouth, whether to say it. Not because the thought was wrong. But because you had learned, somewhere along the way,…
I worked bedside in an acute rehabilitation hospital with individuals who had sustained traumatic brain injuries alongside their families. That…
“I don’t understand why I still feel stuck.” —I sometimes hear that from clients early on. These are very thoughtful, self-aware people who are deeply…
Pearl Bailey, in her book The Raw Pearl, 1969. If you tilt your head right now and check out the above photo and the quote from that vantage point,…
As a trauma therapist, I see a trend that often surprises clients. People come in, seeking help for stress, depression, and anxiety. During initial…
It usually starts innocently enough. I tell myself I’ll just check the news for five minutes. Forty minutes later, I’m still scrolling—tired, uneasy,…
Lately, I’ve been working with more people than ever, including new parents, professionals, teachers, and young adults who are struggling in ways that…
When my daughter was a toddler, she sometimes approached me and said, “Mommy, I’m bored.” My answer? “Good!” At the time, it felt a
I’ve worked with a wide range of clients, including new parents, professionals, and adult children of aging parents, and I’ve noticed
You’ve probably heard the expression, “Don’t judge a person until you have walked a mile in their shoes.” Well, that is not the way I
Many Gen Xers describe their childhoods as pretty good on the surface. There were bikes, cartoons, and a sense of independence. But now,
A Personal Dive into DBR I’m currently pursuing certification in Deep Brain Reorienting (DBR). Why now? Because, in both research and
I’ve been working with several women recently who are either pregnant or have just given birth
Bringing up something deeply personal in therapy can feel intimidating
Taking the first step toward therapy is a big decision, and finding the right therapist can make all the difference. A free consultation
One common superpower among therapists is knowing how all too human we are
Ending therapy can feel like a major transition, whether you've achieved your goals or feel it's time to move forward independently
Our society does not give much credence to feelings or human vulnerabilities. Plenty of us have learned to bury or avoid messy feelings
The holiday season often brings joy, connection, and celebration. However, for those who have experienced trauma, this time of year can
Understanding Family Dynamics and Attachment Wounds For many of us, family is our first and most influential connection, shaping our
Dental anxiety is a common issue affecting many individuals, often leading to avoidance of necessary dental care. You're not alone if
When searching for a therapist, it’s natural to wonder whether they should share your religious beliefs
Often touted as “magic,” our increasing understanding of neuroscience may indicate otherwise
In today's world, the word "mindfulness" is associated with a sense of peace and tranquility. However, mindfulness goes much deeper and
Accidents happen. And plenty happens beyond our control. Shocking. Unsettling. Even driving by a motor vehicle accident can be
The Importance of Continuity in Therapy Continuity is a key aspect of effective therapy. Regular sessions help maintain progress and
When we struggle with internal emotional conflict in the present, there is a likely chance that these conflicts are rooted in core
Childhood experiences, particularly those within our earliest relationships, shape us in profound ways. While many people are familiar
Caring for an aging parent is a path filled with love and challenges
Understanding EMDR Therapy Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is a remarkable and innovative approach to
The litany of “should”s, “must”s, and “have to”s is hard to disrupt. Many of us grew up learning “good” and “right”
Life is a series of small, subtle, and monumental changes. Big or little, transitions are transformative. Major life transitions can be
Have you thought of parts work as a component of your trauma-informed therapy? When something is good, I want to shout about it, as the
It’s easy to forget to smell the roses. It is hard to “just be”. We go on overdrive, push through, as it were, avoiding feelings and
Holidays often include spending time with family–and special meals together. Sharing meals together nourishes body and soul and are
Many of my clients are working on setting boundaries given toxic dynamics with families. An EMDR colleague has provided some excellent
Q: How are you feeling? A: Oh, I’m fine. That’s how the exchange goes, along with that glossy response, no matter how we are
Self compassion can be hard to come by. Healing from deficiencies of self compassion helps not only you, but ripples out and washes over
The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. –Aristotle. Do you agree? I will go out on a limb and say those who have participated in
“When things fall apart, they turn into something else.” Roger Wolfe, LCSW I don’t know if my supervisor Roger Wolfe knew Yeats wrote a
Transitioning to motherhood is a rite of passage. And, It IS a big deal. It often gets portrayed on TV shows in unrealistic ways. A baby
Once, I gained wisdom from my teeth. I was 18 years old and had 4 impacted wisdom teeth extracted. After the surgery, I counted the days
Grief is not a mental illness but a normal process that takes time and looks different for everyone. Signs it may help to work with a counselor.
How to tell whether you need brief or long term psychotherapy: your objectives, your confidence in therapy, homework, timeframe and budget.
I invite you to start with a consultation. There is no pressure, just a conversation to see whether working together makes sense.
