Susan Kates, LMFT

Susan Kates is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) based in Wyoming with 30 years of professional experience. She has worked across clinical and outreach settings to assist people facing family conflict, trauma, chemical dependency, and abuse. Her background includes supporting individuals who have experienced homelessness and working with children affected by trauma in both hospital and outpatient environments.

Susan integrates Solution-Focused Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and trauma-informed methods to tailor care to each person’s needs. She is also certified in Smart Recovery, a specialized approach for addressing chemical dependency. Her practice emphasizes practical strategies and coping skills while attending to the emotional impact of past and ongoing difficulties.

In sessions she cultivates an open, nonjudgmental atmosphere where thoughts and feelings can be explored honestly. Susan encourages clients to take courageous steps toward a more satisfying life and offers guidance and support as they pursue change and resilience.

Therapeutic Approaches Delivered Online

Solution-Focused Therapy centers on identifying specific goals and building on strengths to create practical steps forward. It is often helpful for people seeking targeted change in relationships, habits, or day-to-day functioning.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on the connections between thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, teaching skills to manage anxiety, depression, and mood symptoms through structured strategies and practice.

Trauma-Focused approaches attend to the effects of past traumatic experiences, offering ways to process distress and reduce the ways trauma interferes with current life. These methods aim to restore a sense of safety and greater emotional regulation.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic work. Susan collaborates with each person to determine which combination of methods aligns with their needs, goals, and preferences, adapting the plan as progress unfolds.

Online therapy offers flexible access to licensed professionals through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. This variety of formats makes it easier to fit sessions into busy schedules, connect from different locations, and use the style of communication that feels most comfortable for each person.