Therapy that goes beyond insight
Suzanne Cross, LCSW #121706
Many people come to therapy wanting more than a place to vent. They want to understand why they continue to feel anxious, stuck, or caught in the same relationship patterns, and they want their lives to begin feeling different.
I work with adults who are looking for thoughtful, focused trauma therapy that goes beyond insight alone. Together, we'll slow things down, stay curious about what's happening beneath the surface, and help your nervous system experience the lasting change you've been working toward.
Why I believe healing is possible
People come to therapy from many different places.
Some are beginning therapy for the first time because they're looking for a thoughtful, focused approach to healing. Others have been to therapy before, gained meaningful insight, and still find themselves caught in the same anxiety, relationship patterns, or emotional reactions they hoped would have changed by now.
Over the years, I've found myself especially drawn to helping people who want more than insight alone. Whether you're starting therapy for the first time or returning because you're still feeling stuck, my goal is to help you experience the kind of lasting change that reaches beyond understanding and into everyday life.
The way I approach therapy has been shaped by both my professional training and my own lived experience. Like many people I work with, I spent years believing that certain ways of feeling, relating, and coping were simply part of who I was.
I carried a narrative that I now hear so often from clients: "My childhood wasn't that bad." I couldn't make sense of why I struggled.
Learning about attachment, developmental trauma, and the nervous system, along with my own experience in trauma-focused therapy, transformed the way I understood my experiences and gave me something invaluable: the confidence that meaningful change is possible.
I don't believe people are broken. I believe we adapt in remarkable ways to survive difficult experiences. Those adaptations often make perfect sense, even when they're no longer serving us.
My role isn't to fix you. It's to help you understand those patterns with compassion, process what your nervous system has been carrying, and create the kind of lasting change that allows you to feel more grounded, connected, and like yourself.
If what you've read resonates with you and you're looking for therapy that goes beyond insight to help you create lasting change, I'd love to help you explore what's possible. You can connect with me by booking a free 20-minute consultation.
We might be a good fit for working together if...
✔ You sometimes find yourself saying, "I know why I do this... so why can't I stop?"
✔ You're beginning therapy or returning because you're ready for lasting change.
✔ You understand some of your patterns, but they still keep showing up in your life.
✔ You feel stuck in anxiety, overthinking, or relationship patterns that are hard to shift.
✔ You're looking for an approach that helps create change, not just insight.
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
We focus on creating change, not just understanding why you feel the way you do.
I'll help guide you when you feel stuck.
We slow things down when emotions become overwhelming.
I'll gently interrupt patterns that keep you feeling stuck.
You won't be pushed into trauma work before you're ready.
I'll explain what we're doing and why.
We work together rather than me simply interpreting your experiences.
I'll challenge you when it supports your growth, not just listen.
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.
If you'd like to learn more about how I approach trauma treatment, you can read more about my trauma therapy approach.
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
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
Blog
A little more about me
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
