Susan Frate, LISW

Susan Frate is a licensed social worker in Ohio with 22 years of professional experience. She holds the LISW credential, which stands for Licensed Independent Social Worker and indicates advanced clinical social work training and the ability to practice independently. Her practice centers on helping people navigate stress and anxiety, recover from trauma and abuse, manage depression, and cope with significant life changes.

She approaches therapy from a strengths-based perspective, believing that each person is the expert on their own life and already possesses resources that can support healing and growth. Beginning therapy often requires courage, and she encourages clients to bring that strength into a collaborative process focused on their priorities and well-being.

Susan emphasizes practical, client-centered work that helps people build skills, increase resilience, and make meaningful changes. She aims to create a supportive space where goals are clear, progress is measurable, and the client’s values guide the pace and direction of the work.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, helps people clarify their values and take committed steps toward the life they want. It combines acceptance strategies with behavioral change techniques and is often used for anxiety, stress, and coping with life changes.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, focuses on identifying and shifting unhelpful thinking patterns and behaviors. It is practical and skills-based, commonly applied to depression, anxiety, and mood-related concerns.

Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes empathy, respect, and collaboration so the therapist follows the client’s lead while offering support and reflection. This approach is useful when someone needs a supportive environment to explore feelings, make decisions, and strengthen self-understanding.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Susan Frate works collaboratively with each person to determine which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences, and she adjusts strategies as progress unfolds.

Online therapy makes these approaches accessible through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. These options offer flexibility to fit therapy into busy schedules, maintain continuity of care, and allow people to engage in treatment from locations that work for them, while working with licensed professionals who can tailor care to individual needs.