Susan Merletti , LPCC

Susan Merletti is licensed in California as an LPCC - a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor - and brings 39 years of professional experience to her work. She has supported people coping with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, cancer and chronic illness, and unresolved trauma. Susan approaches therapy with respect for each person’s life story, holding the view that individuals are the experts on their own experience and already possess strengths that can be mobilized to meet difficult situations.

She acknowledges that taking the first step toward a more fulfilling and happier life takes courage and offers steady support throughout the healing process. Her long career in California has focused on helping clients move through hardship and toward greater well-being while honoring their values and goals.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Susan integrates client-centered therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and mindfulness-based techniques into her practice. Client-centered therapy focuses on creating a respectful, nonjudgmental environment where the individual’s perspective guides the work - this approach is often helpful for building self-understanding, processing relationships, and strengthening personal agency. CBT is a practical, skills-oriented approach that examines the connections between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and is commonly used to address anxiety, depression, and patterns that interfere with daily functioning. Mindfulness therapy teaches present-moment awareness and gentle attention to thoughts and sensations, which can support stress reduction and coping with chronic illness or ongoing emotional pain.

Susan treats finding the right approach as a collaborative process. She works with each person to explore which methods best align with their needs, goals, and preferences, adjusting techniques as the work unfolds so the therapeutic plan fits the individual.

Online therapy options include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, offering flexibility for varied schedules and needs. These modalities make it easier to access licensed professionals from different locations and to integrate therapy into busy lives, while preserving a consistent pathway to ongoing therapeutic support.