Susan Schwerd, LCPC

Susan Schwerd is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in Maryland with 24 years of experience. She helps people facing stress, anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, anger, sleep problems, and life changes. She also supports those coping with chronic illness, cancer, traumatic brain injury, and the strains that can come from careers or caregiving.

Susan uses a psychodynamic foundation alongside practical approaches. She listens for recurring patterns that keep people stuck. Then she works with clients to try new ways of responding to today's challenges. Sessions can include coaching-style work for career or productivity concerns.

Her background includes many years in outpatient mental health and time as a human resources director before private practice. That mix shaped a straightforward, problem-solving style that still values longer-term insight. She has worked with veterans and received relevant training from military organizations for non-military professionals.

Susan sometimes uses adjunct methods such as clinical hypnotherapy and neurofeedback to complement talk therapy. She teaches self-hypnosis and breathing techniques that can help with pain and anxiety management. These tools are offered as part of a broader therapeutic plan rather than a stand-alone fix.

Sessions are offered by live video and phone, and she reads a limited number of messages between sessions. Prospective clients should confirm current session options and scheduling details before booking.

How her approaches translate to online therapy

Psychodynamic Therapy focuses on understanding patterns that started earlier in life and how they affect current feelings and choices. Online conversations help uncover repetitive reactions and open space for different ways of handling stress, relationships, and mood issues.

Solution-Focused Therapy is brief and goal-oriented. It emphasizes small, practical steps to change what is happening now. This approach can be useful for problems like anxiety, sleep issues, anger management, and career concerns where concrete changes are the priority.

Clinical hypnotherapy in her work involves guided breathing, relaxation, and self-hypnosis techniques to reduce anxiety and ease chronic pain. These are taught step-by-step so clients can practice them between sessions as tools for self-regulation.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with each person about goals, preferences, and what has or hasn’t worked before, then tailor techniques accordingly. Clients often try more than one method as they find what helps most.

Her online practice uses live video and phone sessions, so check the current options when you schedule. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy day, let someone join from a quieter spot, or use shorter check-ins when time is tight. Ask about learning self-hypnosis and breathing skills during online sessions if those tools are of interest.