IFSTherapists

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LMFT

Susan Faix, LMFT

  • Experience26 years
  • LocationCalifornia
  • Focus areasAddictions, Family, and Grief
  • Therapy approachesInternal Family Systems and Attachment-Based Therapy
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About Susan

Susan Faix is a licensed marriage and family therapist practicing in California with 26 years of clinical experience.

Background and approach

She has worked extensively with people facing addictions, grief and loss, family conflict, parenting challenges, mood concerns such as depression and bipolar symptoms, and a wide range of relationship and stress-related issues. Her practice also addresses attention concerns, eating and sleep difficulties, anger and self-esteem struggles, and life transitions including divorce and caregiving stress.

Susan emphasizes a respectful, sensitive, and compassionate approach to care, shaping conversations and treatment plans to match each person's circumstances. She draws on a variety of evidence-informed methods including Internal Family Systems, attachment-based perspectives, client-centered techniques, CBT, and DBT to support coping, communication, and emotional regulation.

Taking that first step toward change often requires courage, and she aims to provide steady support as clients work toward clearer goals and greater well-being.

How therapeutic approaches translate to online care

Online therapy with Susan draws on methods that help people understand inner parts, attachment patterns, and present-moment experience. Internal Family Systems helps clients identify and work with different internal parts or subpersonalities, which can be useful for addressing self-criticism, trauma-related reactions, or conflicting impulses. Attachment-Based Therapy focuses on how early relationships shape expectations and emotional responses, offering ways to strengthen connection and repair relational patterns. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes an empathic, nonjudgmental stance where the therapist follows the client's lead to foster insight and growth.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist works together with each person to explore goals, preferences, and what feels most helpful, and then tailors strategies from her training to fit the client's needs rather than imposing a single method.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, which offer flexibility for people juggling work, family, or geographic constraints. These options allow ongoing access to licensed professionals from home or elsewhere and can make it easier to maintain consistent sessions while adapting communication styles to what best supports progress.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of concerns does this therapist help with?
She works with a broad range of concerns including addictions, family and parenting conflicts, grief, anxiety, depression, bipolar symptoms, trauma, relationship and intimacy issues, stress, and many related topics listed in her specialties.
What is her therapeutic style and approach?
Her style is respectful, sensitive, and compassionate, and she adapts dialogue and treatment plans to each client. She uses a mix of approaches such as Internal Family Systems, attachment-based work, client-centered techniques, CBT, and DBT.
How long has she been practicing?
She brings 26 years of professional experience working with people facing addictions, family issues, grief, parenting challenges, and other life difficulties.
Where is the therapist licensed and located?
She is licensed as an LMFT in California under license number CA LMFT 45579 and practices from that state.
Does she offer services in other languages or to international clients?
Sessions are conducted in English and she is not currently accepting international clients.
What session formats are available for working with her?
Clients can meet through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to fit different needs and schedules.
How is cost handled for sessions?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability, and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What do I need to do to begin therapy?
To start, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule according to therapist availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

AddictionsFamily conflictsGriefParenting issuesCompassion fatigue

Also works with

Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesTrauma and abuseIntimacy-related issuesEating disordersSleeping disordersAnger managementSelf esteemCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderDepressionCoping with life changesCoachingADHD

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAging and geriatric issuesAntisocial personalityAttachment issuesAvoidant personalityBlended family issuesCaregiver issues and stressCo-morbidityCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDependent personalityDivorce and separationDrug and alcohol addictionEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFertility issuesForgivenessGuilt and shameHoardingHospice and end-of-life counselingInfidelityIsolation / lonelinessJealousyLife purposeMood disordersPhobiasPost-traumatic stressPrejudice and discriminationSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-loveSocial anxiety and phobiaTraumatic brain injuryWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Attachment-Based TherapyClient-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)Existential TherapyJungian TherapyMindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingNarrative TherapySolution-Focused TherapyInternal Family Systems

Experience

26+ years

Licensed

California

Languages

English