Not your traditional therapist
I am known for my authentic and direct style combining various techniques and creative solutions with a unique perspective you can benefit from. My education, training, and personal journey as a daughter, partner and mother of three young adults allow me to assist you in finding purpose.
“I’m often asked how I came to be a sex therapist. I was raised in northern Europe, where I learned as a young girl that sexuality is a part of our physical and mental health. When I started my career as a therapist, I found my methodical and straightforward working style made it possible for my clients to make big changes in their lives by using often simple solutions and more so when both partners participated in couples therapy. Over time, my colleagues began referring clients to me who needed to talk about three difficult but defining and powerful elements in our lives: sex, money, and death. From here a focus on sex therapy naturally evolved as I found a real calling to create space to talk openly about relationships and sexuality with clients of any age.”
As a sex therapist, I create a compassionate and judgment-free space for you to explore your most intimate challenges while working toward the goals you set for the process. Infidelity and relationship conflict bring to my office clients, who express appreciation for my action-oriented approach. I am a poly-friendly therapist, ready to explore a variety of fidelity contracts and lovestyles with you. I want to make sure you begin to untangle your current difficulties and longstanding issues from the first session.
I work with any matter related to your overall well-being including, yet not exclusively, sex and intimacy. Sexual arousal & dysfunction, desire discrepancies, pleasure enhancement, out-of-control sexual behavior, thoughtful separation, divorce & co-parenting, menopause, body image, sex & trauma, adolescent sexuality, sexual orientation as well as sexuality and aging are some of the topics my clients look to address and resolve to enhance the quality of life. At times individual struggles with depression and anxiety get in the way of overall contentment in life and relationships, which is why my diverse background in the field of mental health is helpful to my clients.
Many of my clients have seen other therapists before arriving in my office. Specializing plays a critical role in my ability to help you solve what has previously been unsolvable.
SUSANNA CARLSON LCSW CST
Susanna Carlson, LCSW CST received her Master’s degree in Clinical Social Work from Fordham University. She is a Certified Sex Therapist by AASECT (American Association of Sex Educators, Counselors, and Therapists) and received specialized training in Holistic Sex Therapy from the Institute for Sexuality Education and Enlightenment (ISEE). Susanna is an EMDR therapist and has also received general training in couple therapy, psychological assessment, grief counseling, substance abuse treatment, adolescent sexuality, as well as crisis management.
Susanna began her career in mental health working with clients diagnosed with severe psychotic symptoms in an inpatient setting. After obtaining her Master of Social Work (MSW) degree, she worked in a community outpatient clinic for dual diagnoses, a boutique residential addiction treatment facility, multiple acute psychiatric hospitals, assisted in opening a residential treatment facility for adolescents as Associate Clinical Director and in integrated mental health in a primary care setting, as well as medical social work. All along, Susanna has assisted clients in her virtual private practice toward understanding and managing their symptoms, empowering them to create meaningful connections, improving their sense of self-worth by living authentically, and enhancing their overall quality of life.
Susanna is licensed as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in four states: California, Utah, New York, and Connecticut. She volunteers as a Member of the Sex Therapist Certification Committee for AASECT.