Originally from Tucson, Arizona, Susan began her career in Colorado, working as an agency youth counselor for seven years before moving to the Northwest in 1982. From 1983 to the present she has maintained a private counseling practice with a Jungian Analytic focus. Mentorship with Seattle Analyst Anne de Vore, PhD, inspired her early commitment to the creative process in clinical practice as well as to her own artistic practices of writing and photography.
Susan completed her PhD in clinical psychology, under the mentorship of Hal Stone, PhD, and Sidra Stone, PhD, founders of Voice Dialogue. Over the next decade of her work in private practice, Susan continued to explore dream tending and the creative process in healing with Jungian Analyst Russ Lockhart, PhD, while completing four years of study at the North Pacific Institute of Analytical Psychology in Seattle. After 40 years of practice Susan closed her Seattle office, but continues part-time work from her Whidbey Island office in Langley, Washington.
Professional Organizations: The Authors’ Guild, N.W.A.P.S, American Counseling Association, PEN America
Education
BA in Sociology, University of Arizona
Minor: Psychology/Government
MA in Counseling Psychology, International College
Thesis: “The Effect of Mind, Body, Spirit Integration On Creative Expression.”
PhD Clinical Psychology, International College
Dissertation: “A Theoretical Examination Of The Psychological Archetypes Which Influence Women’s Creativity.”
Jungian Analytical training–4 years, North Pacific Institute of Analytical Psychology
Presentation for advanced standing: On the creativity inherent in the wounded healer motif and nature’s alchemy, titled “New Life.”