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Susan Swartz

Psy.D

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Specialties

Trauma

Susan Swartz, Psy.D is a Psychologist who graduated from Ryokan College in 2015. As a seasoned clinician, Susan has 9 years of experience in the field and is licensed in California.

Learn more about Susan

As we get older, we have more and more perspective on what’s important to us. Working with older people often means we have more time –without the burdens of working full-time and raising young children–to re-examine our beliefs and habits and move towards ones that are more helpful to us and supportive of our long-term goals and values. I enjoy helping others access their own internal healing mechanism so they can more gently and easily make the changes they want to make.

Recent research has suggested that online therapy overall is as effective as in-person therapy. The benefits of online therapy are numerous, and include access to clinicians despite geographic distance and greater access to care for people who are dealing with mobility issues, health issues, or transportation barriers. Online therapy through Zoom provides both privacy and safety. There are staff at Total Life who can help you access Zoom as well. Another option is phone visits. True, online therapy may not work for everyone, but many people who give it a try find that it meets their needs and has benefits they hadn’t even been aware of until they tried it for themselves.

My experiences include working at various community mental health centers as well as a few eating disorder treatment centers. My most recent work has been heavily focused on outpatient treatment and residential treatment for adults and older adults seeking recovery from substance abuse disorders.

In our sessions, the first step for me is listening in-depth to what your goals are for therapy as well as what situations and events have caused you to seek out therapy. Using this information, together we can map out a plan for how you can achieve your goals using evidence-based techniques such as Motivational Interviewing, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. My approach is based on the idea that we’re all living out past programming without really being aware of it, and in therapy we get a chance to look at all of that, which allows us to start to make choices about which beliefs and habits we want to keep and which we want to let go of.

Therapists Who Understand Aging

Have Hope After Three Sessions

After three sessions a majority of clients have hope that their situation is improving.

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YOUR THERAPIST IS A CLICK AWAY

Start Your Journey Towards Better Health 

This image depicts a simplified illustration of an older woman with gray hair and glasses, wearing a coral-colored top. She is holding a laptop in one hand, which displays the "Total Life" logo on the screen. With her other hand, she is pointing toward the laptop. The setting includes a desk with a coffee cup, a stack of books, and a small plant, suggesting a comfortable work or learning environment. The overall design is lighthearted and engaging, with a focus on technology and accessibility for seniors.
This image shows a step labeled as "1" in a process, with the number enclosed in a coral-colored circle followed by the text "SIGN UP" in dark green. The design is simple and clean, emphasizing the first step of a sign-up process. The combination of colors—coral for the number and dark green for the text—creates a clear and professional visual hierarchy.

Reach out to us through our website or by phone. We’ll verify your Medicare coverage to see if you qualify for free therapy sessions.

This image shows an illustrated older woman with gray hair tied in a bun and glasses, wearing a coral-colored top. She is seated at a desk, working on a laptop. A speech bubble next to her shows an image of a tablet with a download arrow, indicating a focus on technology or app downloads. The scene suggests that the woman is engaged in a digital activity, promoting ease of use or the process of downloading an app or document. The illustration is light and approachable, emphasizing technology use for seniors.
This image displays the second step in a process. A coral-colored circle contains the number "2," followed by the text "FIND YOUR MATCH" in dark green. The design is minimalistic and clear, highlighting the importance of finding a suitable match as part of the process. The coral circle and dark green text provide contrast and make the step visually distinct and easy to follow.

After discussing your needs, we recommend one of our experienced therapists and schedule your first appointment.

This image features an illustrated older woman with gray hair, wearing a coral-colored top with a white collar, sitting at a desk in front of a laptop. She is smiling and appears to be engaged in a virtual conversation. A thought bubble next to her shows a video call screen with a male doctor or professional, wearing a white coat, indicating that she is in a telehealth or online consultation session. The overall scene conveys a sense of ease and comfort with using technology for health-related or professional consultations.
This image shows the third step in a process. A coral-colored circle contains the number "3," followed by the text "START YOUR JOURNEY" in dark green. The design is simple and clear, indicating the final step where the user begins their experience or service. The use of coral and dark green creates a visually appealing contrast, making the step easy to recognize and follow.

On the scheduled date of your session, your therapist will contact you via phone or video call to begin working on resolving your issues and improving your well-being.

Therapists Who Understand Aging

See Change After Six Sessions

After six sessions a majority of clients have reflected that actual change occured.

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