Susan Smoot, LPC

Susan Smoot is an LPC who helps people facing stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, grief, and major life changes. She acknowledges how hard the first step can be and encourages people who are starting therapy. Her tone is straightforward and steady for someone looking for practical help.

With 25 years of experience, she centers sessions on each person's strengths and life story. She treats clients as the expert on their own lives and works together with them to clarify goals. Conversations focus on what is happening now and what small steps can make daily life feel more manageable.

Susan uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques that are practical and goal-oriented. She talks through coping tools for panic, strategies for reducing anxiety, and ways to address addictive behaviors. She also supports people processing grief, forgiveness, guilt, and shame.

In session she helps people improve communication, regain a sense of control, and reconnect with life purpose and self-love. Work can include short-term problem solving or longer-term exploration depending on what the person needs.

Susan practices in Virginia as an LPC. Sessions are conducted in English. To begin, people complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule according to therapist availability.

Evidence-based techniques and online care

Many of Susan's approaches are evidence-based and focused on practical skills. One common approach is skills-based work for anxiety and panic that teaches breathing, grounding, and stepwise exposure to feared situations. This kind of work aims to reduce the frequency and intensity of panic and to build confidence in everyday situations.

Another strand of her work addresses addictions and trauma-related symptoms by helping people build safety, routine, and clear coping plans. Sessions often include tracking triggers, practicing alternative behaviors, and talking through ways to manage cravings or distressing memories so they interfere less with daily life.

Finding the right approach is part of the process. The therapist will collaborate with each person to decide which techniques fit their needs, goals, and preferences. That decision is revisited over time so methods can change as progress is made.

If you are considering online therapy, confirm current session options before booking. Online care can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy week, reduce travel time, and allow for shorter check-ins when needed. Ask about the formats offered and schedule choices when you complete the matching questionnaire to ensure sessions match your routine and goals.