Susan Rick

Calm, practical support for emotional change

LCPC Illinois

Experience: 8 years in practice
Focus areas: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Self esteem
Approaches: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Languages: English

About Susan

Susan Rick is an Illinois-licensed LCPC who works with adults facing anxiety, depression, trauma, and a range of emotional and behavioral challenges. She focuses on helping people reduce distress, build self-compassion, and develop clearer communication and coping strategies.

Background and approach

With eight years of clinical experience, she supports clients through issues such as panic attacks, mood disorders, ADHD-related concerns, and problems tied to attachment or relationship patterns. Her practice integrates cognitive behavioral techniques alongside mindfulness and acceptance-based methods to create practical, skills-oriented treatment plans.

Susan aims to help clients identify unhelpful patterns, practice new ways of responding to difficult thoughts and feelings, and strengthen emotional resilience. She also draws from client-centered and dialectical approaches to keep the work grounded in empathy and real-life application.

Susan creates a collaborative environment where clients and therapist work together to set goals and choose strategies that fit each person’s needs. Her background and varied clinical methods are presented in a straightforward manner so clients can focus on making change, improving everyday functioning, and moving toward greater well-being.

Online Approaches and Practical Support

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns to reduce symptoms and improve daily functioning. This approach is often used for anxiety, panic, depression, and many stress-related problems by teaching concrete skills and practice exercises.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) encourages people to clarify their values and accept difficult thoughts and feelings while committing to meaningful action. It can help with living alongside persistent symptoms and increasing engagement in valued activities rather than getting stuck on avoidance.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and the therapist collaborates with each client to choose methods that match their needs, goals, and preferences. That collaborative process includes discussing which techniques feel most useful and adapting strategies as progress unfolds.

Online therapy offers flexibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, making it easier to fit care into a busy life and to access help from different locations within Illinois. These formats can support regular skill practice, brief check-ins, and ongoing work between live sessions, helping clients maintain momentum and apply tools in everyday situations.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does she commonly address?

Susan works with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, self-esteem struggles, depression, ADHD, LGBT-related concerns, anger, bipolar conditions, and coping with life changes, among other mood and anxiety-related issues.

What therapeutic style can I expect?

Her approach is collaborative and skills-focused, blending cognitive behavioral techniques with mindfulness, acceptance-based practices, and client-centered care to promote practical change.

How much clinical experience does she have?

She brings eight years of experience working with a variety of emotional and behavioral challenges and has developed an integrative style over that time.

What are her credentials and where does she practice?

Susan holds an LCPC and practices in Illinois; her license number is IL LCPC 180013829.

Does she offer therapy in languages other than English or accept international clients?

Sessions are offered in English only, and she is not currently accepting international clients.

Which session formats are available?

Clients can connect through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging depending on their preferences and scheduling.

How are costs and payment handled?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions are provided through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

What is the first step to begin therapy?

To begin, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to therapist availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, Anxiety Trauma and abuse Self esteem Depression ADHD

Also works with

LGBTAnger managementBipolar disorderCoping with life changes

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAntisocial personalityAttachment issuesAvoidant personalityCommunication problemsControl issuesDependent personalityDisruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)Domestic violenceForgivenessGuilt and shame Impulsivity Isolation / loneliness Mood disorders Panic disorder and panic attacksPersonality disordersPost-traumatic stressSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-harmSelf-loveSocial anxiety and phobia

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Mindfulness Therapy

Experience

8+ years

Licensed

Illinois

Languages

English