Susan Smoot, LPC

Susan Smoot is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) based in Virginia with 25 years of clinical experience helping adults navigate stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, grief, and significant life changes. She works from an evidence-based perspective, drawing on techniques proven to reduce distress and strengthen coping skills while tailoring each plan to the individual. She views each person as the expert of their own story and partners with clients to build on existing strengths to overcome current challenges.

Susan approaches work with warmth and practical focus, supporting people through panic attacks, social anxiety and phobia, and struggles with control, communication, guilt, and shame. She also assists clients exploring forgiveness, self-love, life purpose, and the recovery process that follows addictive behaviors. Her practice emphasizes collaborative goal-setting and step-by-step strategies to help clients regain balance and move forward.

Recognizing that beginning therapy takes courage, Susan honors that first step and offers steady, respectful guidance throughout the therapeutic process. Her Virginia licensure and long-standing experience guide a calm, solution-oriented approach for those seeking meaningful change.

Evidence-Based Approaches and Online Care

Susan Smoot uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques focused on practical skills and trauma-informed support. One approach centers on skills-based strategies to manage stress, anxiety, and panic symptoms - teaching breathing, grounding, and cognitive tools that help reduce immediate distress and improve daily functioning. Another approach emphasizes trauma-informed methods to process traumatic experiences, address grief, and support recovery from abuse and addictive behaviors in a paced, compassionate way. These approaches are grounded in research and tailored to each person's needs.

Finding the right therapeutic approach is part of the work and Susan treats that as a collaborative process. She will partner with clients to clarify goals, try techniques that fit the person's rhythm and preferences, and adjust the plan as progress is made. This teamwork helps ensure the approach aligns with individual values and life circumstances.

Online therapy offers practical benefits for this kind of care. Video calls allow face-to-face connection when in-person visits are not possible, while phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging provide flexible options for busy schedules, mobility limitations, or those who prefer less direct formats. These options make it easier to maintain consistent support and integrate therapeutic work into everyday life.