Susan Essich-Kruse , LICSW, LISW-CP

Susan Essich-Kruse is a licensed social worker with two decades of clinical experience, licensed in both South Carolina and Massachusetts. She holds the credentials LICSW and LISW-CP - LICSW means Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker and LISW-CP means Licensed Independent Social Worker - Clinical Practitioner - and she draws on those qualifications to provide thoughtful, evidence-informed care to adults and families.

Susan focuses on helping people manage stress and anxiety, navigate relationship challenges, address parenting concerns, and cope with depression and life transitions. She also works with issues related to adoption and foster care, aging and geriatric matters, blended family dynamics, divorce and separation, and women's issues. Her approach centers on recognizing each person as the expert of their own story and helping them mobilize their strengths to meet difficult circumstances.

She encourages taking the first step toward therapy and acknowledges that beginning treatment often requires courage. With a respectful, collaborative stance, Susan supports clients as they explore goals, build coping skills, and create practical strategies for healthier relationships and improved emotional well-being.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care for Families and Individuals

Susan often uses client-centered therapy, which emphasizes listening, empathy, and collaboration so that clients shape their own goals and solutions; this approach is helpful for people facing depression, life changes, or personal growth work. She also incorporates mindfulness therapy, teaching present-moment awareness and simple practices to reduce stress and improve emotional regulation, which can be effective for anxiety and coping with everyday pressures. Systemic therapy informs her work with families and relationships by examining patterns between people and helping improve communication and role dynamics within households.

Choosing the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and Susan works collaboratively with each person to determine which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences. She tailors interventions over time and invites clients to provide feedback so therapy remains aligned with what matters most to them.

Online therapy options include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, which provide flexibility for busy schedules and different comfort levels. These formats make it easier to attend sessions from home, coordinate care around family responsibilities, and maintain continuity of support when life gets busy or travel is necessary. Licensed professionals can adapt these methods to deliver meaningful, accessible care across a range of concerns.