Susan Hoffstetter, LCPC

Susan Hoffstetter is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) practicing in Illinois with 16 years of professional experience. She works with people facing stress and anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, bipolar disorder, depression, relationship and family concerns, grief, anger, and challenges with self esteem, as well as related issues such as obsessive-compulsive behaviors, trichotillomania, and recovery from sexual assault.

Susan approaches each person from a strengths-based perspective, honoring the client as the expert of their own story while offering structured, evidence-informed support. Her work emphasizes practical coping skills and collaborative problem solving to help clients move through immediate concerns and toward clearer goals.

Recognizing that reaching out for help takes courage, she aims to create a respectful, encouraging environment that validates progress at every step. Prospective clients who are ready to begin will find a therapist who values partnership, practical strategies, and steady support throughout the therapeutic process.

Evidence-Based Approaches and Online Care

Susan uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques that focus on building practical skills to manage stress, anxiety, mood fluctuations, and addictive behaviors. These skills-oriented methods help people learn coping strategies, improve emotion regulation, and develop healthier routines that support day-to-day functioning.

She also applies trauma-responsive evidence-based techniques tailored to address trauma, abuse, grief, and related concerns. These approaches aim to reduce symptoms that follow traumatic experiences and to restore a sense of safety and agency over time.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process and is determined collaboratively. Susan partners with each client to identify goals, preferences, and what feels most helpful, adjusting methods as progress unfolds to ensure the best fit.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility for working together from a distance. Video calls and phone sessions allow for face-to-face or voice connection, while live chat and text-based messaging provide shorter, more frequent ways to check in and practice new skills. These options help make therapy more accessible and adaptable to varied schedules and needs, while keeping focus on effective, evidence-informed care delivered by licensed professionals.