Meet Sue Shekut, LCPC, CSAT, SEP

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• Career issues
• Work/Life balance
• Imposter Syndrome
• Adult ADHD
• Relationship issues
• Intimacy Issues
• Attachment issues
• Anxiety disorders, (including OCD and Social Anxiety Disorder)
• Codependency (putting others needs before your own needs)
• Mood disorders, like depression and bipolar disorders
• Human Sexuality issues, including problematic sexual behaviors
• Substance use disorders
• Autism Spectrum issues for clients and families
• Trauma healing
• I am licensed to provide psychotherapy in Arizona, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, and Ohio

Arizona Licensed Professional Counselor: 18848

Georgia Licensed Professional Counselor:  LPC013299

Indiana Licensed Mental Health Counselor: 39004065A

Illinois Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor: 180.011295

Missouri Licensed Professional Counselor:  2025033339

Ohio Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor: E:2404256

Hi, I'm Sue Shekut! I am passionate about helping you feel more fulfilled, less exhausted by life, and have more fulfilling relationships. My approach to working with you is collaborative and validating.  I can help you learn to become more balanced, less reactive, and more confident about facing life's challenges, in your past, present and future. I use the tools of validation, compassion, expressive arts, somatic psychology, EMDR, DBT, and gentle humor to help you get unstuck from old patterns and behaviors that are not working well for you.

Research shows that therapy works best when you feels comfortable and connected to your therapist. I know that many people with difficult childhoods struggle to connect with others. I understand this and view resistance as protection, not a problem, and roll with it. I work with you and your natural protective instincts to help feel more comfortable growing and changing through our work. As part of therapy process, I can teach you how to use somatic awareness to determine which people are trustworthy and how to set boundaries to protect yourself from people that are challenging for you. 

I try to be transparent about our therapy process, which interventions I am applying, and the reasons I use particular interventions. I aim to demystify therapy. I meet you where you are at, creating a comfortable environment for you to work within your own religious beliefs, your own cultural beliefs, your own political beliefs, and your own values.  I am not a cold, impersonal expert,  but a real person who cares about you and your life!  

My work is informed by Brene Brown, shame and vulnerability researcher; Bessel van der Kolk, leading expert in the field of trauma recovery; Peter Levine, master somatic therapist; and Marsha Linnehan, creator of dialectical behavior therapy, a type of psychotherapy that combines behavioral science with Buddhist concepts of acceptance and mindfulness.

Part of my approach to being a trustworthy therapist is letting you know that I am qualified to treat your issues. Let's look at my qualifications: I have a Master’s degree in Clinical Professional Psychology from Roosevelt University and a Bachelor’s degree in Communication from the University of Michigan. I also also completed master's level classes in business administration at Eastern Michigan University in my own career journey.

I am trained in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), which I find helpful for dealing with emotions and communicating effectively. DBT helps you learn to calm their nervous systems, handle emotions and discomfort, set boundaries, and live your life according to what works best for you, versus what living up to others people's expectations. 

I am fulled trained in Somatic Experiencing® and I am a Somatic Experiencing®  Practitioner (SEP). Integrating somatic psychotherapy techniques in our work allows you to process emotions more effectively and easily than talk therapy alone. 

I am fully trained and certified in EMDR through the EMDR International Association.  Both EMDR is recommended for PTSD treatment by the Veterans Administration and the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies. I also hold a certification in Sex Addiction Therapy through the International Institute For Trauma and Addiction Professionals (IITAP).

A lifelong learner, I have additional training in Psychodrama (Experiential Therapy), Improvisational Theater, Mindfulness, and Trauma-Sensitive Yoga. I am also trained in Somatic Resilience and Regulation, a form of somatic therapy, that addresses developmental trauma. SRR theory is based on a combination of attachment theory, developmental trauma psychology, somatic psychotherapy and gentle noninvasive touch. It is not massage therapy or bodywork. Working online now, I use the theory behind SRR to help you learn to better co-regulate and heal from complex PTSD and other childhood issues. I do not provide touch therapy at this time, however.

My experience as a psychotherapist includes providing individual therapy and co-leading groups at a large metropolitan outpatient medical center.  I worked at an adolescent substance use facility as well as in a private group counseling practice, where I provided individual, couple's, and group therapy for clients with trauma, depression, anxiety, and addiction issues.  

My background as a Clinical Massage Therapist since 2000, and a Wellness Coach since 2009, enables me to help clients increase their somatic awareness and understand the mind-body connection to mental health.  

I previously worked as a Technical Writer, a Trainer and an Instructional Designer in the business world. My corporate background enhances my skills as a group facilitator and in providing psychoeducation to you and your family members. My business experience an entrepreneur for over 25 years, along with my training in career counseling, gives me expertise to counsel you regarding career issues. This is useful when a job or career change is needed to improve your environment and wellbeing. I enjoy working with business owners to help them better align their values to their business plans. I use somatic tools to help business owners make their marketing, sales and management more effective.

In my personal life, I has also been a yoga practitioner for over 30 years. I enjoys traveling, training, exploring nature, hiking, biking, swimming, and Stand Up Paddle boarding with my spouse to keep my own nervous system and body, happy and healthy!.