Therapy that goes beyond insight. Suzanne Cross, LCSW #121706
Many people come to therapy wanting more than a place to vent.
You may want to understand yourself, but you also want your reactions to actually shift.
You want:
less anxiety in your body
fewer mental loops and overthinking
different patterns in relationships
the ability to respond instead of react
You can gain insight, know exactly why you feel the way you do, and still find yourself having the same reactions in the moments that matter.
That’s what I focus on.
You might be a good fit for working with me if…
• You understand your patterns but can’t stop them
• You’ve had supportive therapy but didn’t actually change
• You analyze yourself constantly but still react
• You feel like you “know better” but your nervous system doesn’t cooperate
• You worry something is fundamentally wrong with you because therapy didn’t help
Many people reach out when something specific keeps repeating, like
a conversation you can’t stop replaying,
a relationship dynamic you don’t know how to change, oranxiety that won’t settle even when life looks okay on the outside.
You don’t have to have everything figured out before contacting me. A consultation is a chance to talk about what’s been happening and see if my approach feels like it fits.
What working with me looks like
I’m active in sessions
I help guide when you get stuck
I slow things down when emotions spike
I won’t force trauma processing
I will gently interrupt loops
I collaborate rather than interpret you
I will explain what we’re doing and why
We do talk - your experiences, relationships, and life story matter.
But we don’t stay only in conversation.
When reactions show up in session (anxiety, shutdown, intrusive thoughts, emotional flooding), we slow down and work with them directly instead of analyzing them from a distance.
I use approaches like EMDR and IFS (parts-based) therapy to help your brain process experiences rather than just understand them.
You won’t have to retell your story repeatedly, and you won’t be pushed into anything overwhelming. We move at a pace your system can handle.
Over time people often notice:
more choice in how they respond
reduced reactivity
less rumination
more emotional steadiness
Not because you learned better coping strategies, but because the reactions themselves begin to change.
My Training & Background
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Master of Social Work, Adult Mental Health and Wellness, University of Southern California
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Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, California State University of Sacramento
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IFS (Internal Family Systems), IFS Institute, Level 1
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EMDR Training and Certification Track, EMDRIA, Institute for Creative Mindfulness
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Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Russ Harris
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Emotionally-Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT), Sue Johson & Leanne Campbell
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Silent Meditation Retreats and Dharma, Spirit Rock Meditation, 2015-Current
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Advance Yoga Teacher Trainings, Stephanie Snyder & Others, 2010 - 2015
More than just my work:
My favorite hobbies are reading, seeing live music, traveling, cooking, and learning new things! I love nearly every genre of music, but my favorite is electronic dance music. You might be surprised to find me watching sports during my down time. I can also get lost for hours in a refinishing project - making old things new again brings me joy!
One of my favorite quotes is: "You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection". - Buddha
I highly recommend Suzanne as a therapist specializing in trauma. She is incredibly dedicated to her clients and stays up-to-date with the latest evidence-based therapies. Her compassionate approach and expertise create a safe and supportive environment for healing. If you’re looking for a skilled and caring therapist, Suzanne is an excellent choice!
- Brittany
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