Susan Charney , LCSW

Susan Charney is an Arizona-based LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) with 26 years of clinical experience helping people navigate major life shifts and emotional challenges. She combines a compassionate, individualized approach with practical strategies to support growth in relationship dynamics, intimacy-related concerns, and self-esteem development.

Susan works with clients on a broad range of matters including career concerns, coping with life changes, stress and anxiety, family and parenting issues, trauma and abuse, grief, eating and body image struggles, and depression. She also provides coaching for those facing compassion fatigue, caregiver stress, chronic illness or pain, and the unique pressures experienced by first responders.

Her practice emphasizes strengthening self-understanding, improving communication patterns, and fostering resilience after painful experiences. Drawing on evidence-informed approaches, she helps clients explore purpose, address workplace or interpersonal challenges, and build practical pathways forward. Throughout her work she aims to create an affirming environment where individuals can uncover strengths, work through obstacles, and cultivate lasting self-compassion.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Susan Charney uses client-centered therapy to create a respectful, empathic space where clients lead the pace and focus of their work while the therapist provides support and reflection. This approach helps with self-exploration, relationship concerns, and building self-esteem by emphasizing the client's values and goals.

She also draws on cognitive behavioral therapy, which involves identifying unhelpful thoughts and behaviors and developing practical skills to manage symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress. Mindfulness therapy is used alongside these methods to teach present-moment awareness and stress reduction techniques that can improve emotional regulation and coping.

Choosing the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Susan collaborates with each person to determine which methods best match their needs, goals, and preferences, and she adjusts the plan as progress and priorities evolve.

Online therapy offers flexible options such as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, making it easier to fit sessions into a busy life. These formats allow licensed professionals to provide consistent, convenient support and practical tools, so therapy can continue even when in-person visits are not possible.