Susan Edwards - Psychologist | Lifebulb Counseling Services

Susan Edwards, PhD 20 Years Exp - Counseling Psychologist

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Susan Edwards, PhD

Counseling Psychologist

New Jersey Available for Online Therapy

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About Susan Edwards, PhD

Susan believes that much of life is about facing challenges with the right support. As a psychologist, she views her role as helping individuals navigate emotional and psychological difficulties while empowering them with new ways to cope and grow. Originally from Pennsylvania, Susan completed graduate school in Arizona, taught at the graduate level in Maine, and later accepted a post-doctoral fellowship at Rutgers University in New Jersey. Throughout her journey, Susan has been fortunate to learn from inspiring mentors, cultivate her own creativity, and witness the resilience of the human spirit in overcoming adversity. She deeply values kindness and has experienced the profound healing connection animals, especially horses, can provide, both personally and in her work with clients. Above all, Susan is driven by a passion for understanding life’s challenges and helping people recognize their strengths in order to move beyond them.

FAQs

Every breakthrough is a type of victory over adversity. Whether someone is five or seventy, it touches me to know that I helped.

The focus is on learning. Sometimes they will say they learned to think differently. Sometimes they will learn to handle a stressful situation in a new way. Sometimes they will develop new ways of picturing goals in their minds. In general, they will say they learned something different that helped them.

In a collaborative relationship, people are introduced, explain their goals and decide if they feel comfortable and can

work together. Sometimes, they have different expectations and decide if this is a fit or if they need to make a

change. There is no judgment; it is just a decision whether this is a match. When the focus is on learning, there

is less focus on personality and judmentalism and more on hope. Can working with this psychologist help me achieve my

goal? The first session involves each person making a decision to answer this question. One time many years ago

I helped a man who had a traumatic injury. At the end of a process of two years, I asked him how come, at the beginning

of the process, he decided to trust me. His answer was unique. He said, "You remind me of someone who was my

friend in kindergarten." His case outcome was very successful and that association was totally outside either of our

control.

I feel badly about the bad things that happen to good people. When I can work with them get back some of the joy in their lives, it gives me satisfaction. Otherwise, the person is often victimized twice. Once by the bad thing they experienced and secondly, by its impact over time. When this negative chain of events can be altered, it makes me appreciate my field.

Highlights

What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?

Treatment success involves new learning and often, new ways of coping with old problems. As a cognitive-behavioral therapist, I view my role as helping someone learn. At the beginning of therapy a collaborative relationship is formed and two people work together toward goals identified by the client. Along the way, learning facilitates new ways of behavior; positive feelings and mental images increase as the client increases personal understanding in some important ways. Ultimately, progress is achieved in the direction of personal goals and acceptance of a happier personal life.

Treatment sessions offer benchmarks of progress. Some are slow; some are rapid; some fade and some are maintained. At the end of therapy, it is the client who assesses progress toward a goal, part of which often involves greater feelings of happiness and satisfaction overcoming personal adversity. Both increase feelings of self-esteem, self-respect , resiliency over adversity and recognition of one's own courage.

What treatment methods and tools do you utilize?

I utilize evidence-based therapies, including Cognitive Behavioral therapy (CBT), Bibliotherapy and Multimodal Behavior Therapy (The BASIC ID Model of the late Dr. Arnold Lazarus)

Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.

I have an excellent clinical background and have been inspired by multiple mentors in my life. Both of those experiences have helped me to pass on what I have learned to empower others. I also respect the nature of the human spirit and resilience which helps people overcome profound sadness and loss, personal tragedy and overwhelming adversity.