Susan Kates , LMFT

With thirty years of clinical work in Wyoming, Susan Kates brings deep experience supporting people through addiction, trauma, family conflict, and mood challenges. She is an LMFT - a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist - who has practiced in hospital settings caring for children affected by trauma, in outpatient programs, and in outreach work with people experiencing homelessness. Over the course of her career she has worked with a wide range of concerns including addictions, trauma and abuse, stress and anxiety, relationship and family difficulties, grief and parenting struggles, anger, bipolar disorder, and depression, along with related issues such as abandonment, adoption and foster care, caregiver stress, obsessive or compulsive symptoms, panic, personality and mood disorders, and post-traumatic stress.

Susan integrates Solution-Focused Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Trauma-Focused approaches into her work and holds a certification in Smart Recovery to address chemical dependency. In sessions she aims to build an open, nonjudgmental environment where thoughts and feelings can be explored and practical goals can be set. Her focus is on helping people develop coping skills, strengthen relationships, and make meaningful changes that improve day-to-day life.

Susan describes taking the first step toward change as an act of courage and positions herself as a supportive collaborator who empowers clients through the therapeutic process. She works with international clients and draws on long experience to tailor care to each person’s situation and needs.

How Susan's Therapeutic Approaches Work Online

Susan draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Solution-Focused Therapy, and Trauma-Focused approaches when working with clients. CBT helps identify and change unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns, and is useful for anxiety, depression, and mood regulation. Solution-Focused Therapy emphasizes clients’ strengths and practical steps toward specific, achievable goals, often making it a good fit for people seeking focused change in relationships, parenting, or daily stressors. Trauma-Focused work concentrates on addressing the impact of traumatic experiences and teaching coping techniques to reduce symptoms and improve functioning.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and Susan works collaboratively with each person to determine which methods best match their needs, goals, and preferences. She tailors sessions to individual priorities and adapts techniques to be effective in an online format.

Online therapy with Susan can take place by video call, phone session, live chat, or text-based messaging, offering flexibility for different schedules and comfort levels. These options make it easier for people to access licensed professionals and therapists from varied locations while maintaining continuity of care and focusing on meaningful progress.