IFSTherapists

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LMFT

Susan Garner, LMFT

  • Experience20 years
  • LocationCalifornia
  • Focus areasStress and Anxiety, Relationship, and Trauma and abuse
  • Therapy approachesInternal Family Systems and Attachment-Based Therapy
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About Susan

Susan Garner is an experienced licensed marriage and family therapist who works with a wide range of concerns including stress, anxiety, relationship struggles, trauma and abuse, intimacy-related issues, depression, family difficulties, grief, anger, self-esteem, career questions, bipolar disorder, coping with life changes, and ADHD.

Background and approach

She also addresses related areas such as abandonment, attachment difficulties, blended family challenges, body image, codependency, communication problems, dependent personality traits, divorce and separation, family of origin issues, guilt and shame, infidelity, jealousy, and midlife transition concerns.

Over two decades as a practicing LMFT have shaped an integrative style that blends Internal Family Systems with attachment-based and client-centered perspectives alongside cognitive behavioral and emotionally focused methods.

Her approach combines talk-based exploration, mindfulness-influenced practices, and attention to emotional and relational patterns so clients can identify core wounds, sharpen self-awareness, and develop more effective ways of relating and coping. Based in California, she brings clinical training and long-term experience to collaborative goal-setting and practical skill work.

Prospective clients can expect a respectful, empathic presence focused on helping them clarify objectives and build the confidence and tools needed to move toward healthier relationships and greater emotional balance.

Using Integrative Approaches in Online Therapy



Internal Family Systems (IFS) invites clients to explore the inner parts that hold feelings, beliefs, and protective behaviors, helping people to notice and relate differently to those internal dynamics; this can be useful for issues like anxiety, trauma responses, and self-critical patterns. Attachment-Based Therapy focuses on patterns formed in close relationships and helps clients strengthen emotional bonds and repair relational difficulties by exploring attachment dynamics and improving communication. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes an empathic, nonjudgmental therapeutic relationship where the therapist offers respect and acceptance while clients lead exploration of their goals and values.

Finding the right approach is treated as a collaborative process. The therapist works with each person to identify goals, try methods that fit their needs, and adjust strategies over time so work remains relevant and effective for the client's situation and preferences.

Online formats such as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging make it possible to access therapy from different locations and on flexible schedules. These options support continuity of care and allow clients to choose the communication style that best fits their daily life, making it easier to engage in consistent therapeutic work with a licensed professional.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does she commonly help with?
Susan works with stress, anxiety, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, intimacy concerns, depression, family problems, grief, anger, self-esteem, career questions, bipolar disorder, coping with life changes, and ADHD along with related issues such as abandonment, attachment, and blended family challenges.
What is her therapeutic style and approach?
Her style is integrative and collaborative, combining Internal Family Systems, attachment-based and client-centered perspectives with cognitive behavioral and emotionally focused techniques to address emotional patterns and relational dynamics.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 20 years of experience as a practicing psychotherapist, bringing long-term clinical work and training to her practice.
What credentials and location information are provided?
Susan is an LMFT licensed in California as CA LMFT 38979 and in Oregon as OR LMFT T1186, and she practices from California.
Can I work with her if I live outside the United States?
She accepts international clients and offers therapy to people outside the therapist's immediate region.
Which session formats are available for remote work?
Sessions are offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to accommodate different communication preferences.
How are fees and billing handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions are provided through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What are the first steps to begin therapy?
Begin by selecting the Start Therapy button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and then scheduling sessions according to the therapist's availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesTrauma and abuseIntimacy-related issuesDepression

Also works with

Family conflictsGriefAnger managementSelf esteemCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCoping with life changesADHD

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAttachment issuesBlended family issuesBody imageCodependencyCommunication problemsDependent personalityDivorce and separationEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsGuilt and shameInfidelityJealousyMidlife crisisMood disordersPanic disorder and panic attacksPersonality disordersPost-traumatic stressSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Social anxiety and phobiaSomatizationYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Attachment-Based TherapyClient-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)Mindfulness TherapyPsychodynamic TherapySomatic TherapyTrauma-Focused TherapyInternal Family Systems

Experience

20+ years

Licensed

California, Oregon

Languages

English