Susan Beard , LPC

Susan Beard is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) practicing in Mississippi with 15 years of clinical experience. She works with adults facing a broad range of emotional, relational, and behavioral challenges, including addictions, trauma and abuse, anxiety and depression, grief, relationship concerns, and issues related to gender and sexual identity. Her practice also supports people managing neurodiversity, mood disorders, parenting struggles, and coping with major life transitions.

She takes a collaborative, nonjudgmental approach, helping people explore their thoughts and feelings while building skills for healthier coping and stronger relationships. Sessions focus on practical strategies and personal insight so clients can move toward more satisfying, stable daily lives. Susan aims to empower each person to identify goals and take achievable steps toward change.

Susan integrates several evidence-informed methods in her work. She is trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), an approach often used for processing traumatic memories, and draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) techniques to address patterns of thinking, emotional regulation, and behavior. Her background includes work with addictions, LGBTQ concerns, neurodevelopmental differences, and complex trauma, allowing her to tailor care to each person’s needs.

Seeking help takes courage, and Susan aims to provide steady support and practical guidance for those ready to pursue a more fulfilling life.

Approaches That Translate Well to Online Therapy

Susan commonly uses EMDR, DBT, and CBT in her work. EMDR - Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing - helps people process traumatic memories and reduce their emotional intensity by guiding focused attention while accessing those memories, which can ease symptoms related to past trauma. Dialectical Behavior Therapy - DBT - focuses on building skills in emotional regulation, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, and mindfulness, and is useful for people who struggle with intense emotions or relationship conflicts. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy - CBT - helps identify unhelpful thinking patterns and teaches practical strategies to change thoughts and behaviors that contribute to anxiety, depression, and many everyday challenges.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Susan works with each person to understand their goals, preferences, and life context, and she adapts techniques from these approaches to fit what will be most helpful. That collaboration helps ensure therapy aligns with the client’s needs and pace.

Online sessions offer flexibility in how therapy happens - from video calls and phone sessions to live chat or ongoing text-based messaging - making it easier to fit support into busy schedules or when in-person visits are not practical. These options can increase accessibility and make consistent care more feasible for people managing work, family, or health demands.