- Sleep and rest support
- Practical coping skills
- Coaching for work life
About Susan
Susan Schwerd is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor based in Maryland who helps people manage stress, anxiety, sleep problems, grief, and life changes. She brings 24 years of clinical experience and a practical, coaching-informed style to sessions. Her approach aims to reduce overwhelm and build clearer routines and coping skills for daily life.
She trained in counseling psychology and spent early years in large outpatient mental health settings, including roles as assistant clinical director. Before becoming a therapist she worked for a decade in human resources, which informs her coaching work around career and productivity. She uses that background to help clients set realistic goals and improve workplace functioning.
Susan’s therapy blends psychodynamic thinking with solution-focused ideas and practical tools. She looks for patterns that keep people stuck, then works with them to try different responses in everyday situations. She also uses hypnotherapy and other adjunct methods to support relaxation and symptom management when appropriate.
Her practice addresses mood disorders, bipolar and depression, trauma and post-traumatic stress, chronic pain and medical illness, anger and emotional regulation, panic, and compassion fatigue. She also supports people coping with cancer, traumatic brain injury, veteran-related issues, and disaster-related stress.
Online and phone options are used for many clients, and she teaches breathing and self-hypnosis techniques to help manage anxiety and chronic pain. Prospective clients are asked to follow the Start Therapy process to match and schedule sessions.
How these approaches translate to online therapy
Psychodynamic Therapy looks at patterns and past experiences that influence how people respond today. Online sessions use discussion to identify repeating themes and try gentle, practical changes in daily life that can improve rest and relationships.Solution-Focused Therapy concentrates on specific goals and small steps that move someone toward better functioning. In virtual meetings this approach emphasizes short-term strategies for sleep, stress, and coping that can be practiced between sessions.
Hypnotherapy and self-hypnosis teach relaxation and focused attention techniques that many people use to reduce anxiety and manage chronic pain. Through guided exercises, clients can learn breathing and imagery methods to support sleep onset and symptom control.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist collaborates with each person to choose methods based on their needs, goals, and preferences. That choice can be adjusted over time as progress and priorities change.
Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life by removing travel time and allowing appointments from wherever a person is located within the therapist’s service area. Phone and live video sessions are mentioned in the original practice description, but readers should confirm current session options before booking. Many clients find virtual visits help them practice strategies at home and maintain continuity of care between in-person visits.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
24+ years
Credentials
Maryland
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she address related to sleep?
She supports people with sleep and rest problems through anxiety reduction, breathing work, and self-hypnosis techniques aimed at improving relaxation and bedtime routines.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her style is active and pragmatic, combining psychodynamic ideas with solution-focused methods and hypnotherapy when useful to the client’s goals.
How long has she practiced as a counselor?
She has been practicing since 1999, bringing 24 years of experience that includes outpatient clinical roles and private practice work.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) in Maryland and maintains a practice serving clients from that state.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients schedule sessions?
International clients are not currently accepted.
How are sessions scheduled and what does cost look like?
Costs vary with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What do I need to do to begin working together?
Use the Start Therapy button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and then schedule appointments according to the therapist’s listed availability.