Life is a journey. How can I help?

About me

I love working with people who are interested in their own growth and healing.

I can go with people into the hard places. It’s a collaboration.

What I Offer

Telehealth I primarily meet with clients by secure video sessions. You must be located in MA during your sessions as that is where I am licensed to practice.

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) EMDR can be helpful with experiences that were hard and still hurt sometimes, as well as things that were more obviously traumatic. EMDR can also help with phobias, intergenerational trauma, and anxiety about future experiences. Between sessions clients use skills and practices to support stability and calm. To learn about EMDR, you might visit http://www.EMDRIA.org.

Adjunct EMDR MA licensed therapists who will provide ongoing care to their stable client may call to ask about adjunct EMDR. For youth 12+ to address a single incident (the youth must be motivated and have good supports) or adults for single or multiple incidents.

Couples Therapy practical skills to talk through issues and strengthen the relationship. Helpful articles for couples can be found at https://www.gottman.com.

Interests trauma, grief and loss, spiritual and existential issues

Clients most of my clients are seeking EMDR or couple’s support. Individual clients are typically stable and functioning well enough in the present to work on the past. Couples are typically functioning well day to day but recognizing they could be doing better with some improved communication and teamwork.

Issues trauma, loss, anxiety, depressed mood, stress, relationship issues, life transitions, support with gender and sexual orientation. Please note: I am not a gender specialist.

Education Master of Social Work 2009 – End-of-Life Concentration – Salem State University, Master of Divinity 1998 – Harvard University.

Training EMDR trained in 2016 (EMDRIA). Completed Gottman Method Couple’s Therapy Level I training in 2016.

Insurances: Blue Cross & Blue Shield, United Health Care, Medicare, Wellpoint-Unicare State Indemnity, Harvard Pilgrim, Tufts, Fallon, some MassHealth plans, some MA Health Connector plans. Your insurance company can tell you if a provider is in-network and clarify your costs.

Therapy session fees: Initial assessment $165. Individual session $125 (about 45 min) or $165 (about 60 min). Joint session for couple $150. A full list of fees is provided in the intake process.

Payment: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover. Please ask about methods of payment accepted if other than a major credit card or bank debit card in your name.

Per the No Surprises Act, a Good Faith Estimate explaining the cost of services is provided to those who do not plan to use insurance.

Privacy Practices in keeping with HIPAA are provided prior to the initial session.

Admission to therapy is not a guarantee of results, but often the start of a question about how things might be better. The process of therapy can be hard, at times distressing, potentially fun or surprising, and definitely work. Ending therapy may simply be a need or choice to stop, or it may include a sense of accomplishment or satisfaction, perhaps walking out of the hard places with self compassion and curiosity about what’s next.

Susan Gershwin LICSW LLC is a psychotherapy practice located in the Pioneer Valley in Western Massachusetts. Susan Gershwin is a licensed independent clinical social worker (LICSW) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and is currently seeing clients primarily through secure telehealth video sessions.

Contact Information

If you are experiencing a mental health emergency and at risk or harming yourself or someone else, please go to a hospital emergency room or call 911.

Crisis Services can be reached 24/7:

Franklin County 413-774-5411

Hampshire County 413-586-5555

Massachusetts Behavioral Health Help Line 833-773-2445 (call or text)

National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline – 988

Trans Lifeline 877-565-8860

To inquire about therapy

Please leave me a voice message at 857-753-6631 Mon-Thur 9am-5pm.

I generally respond within two weeks, though it may be longer. I typically have more requests than openings.

Other potential supports

The Psychology Today website has articles that may be of interest as well as a search feature for finding a therapist.

Your Primary Care Provider’s office might be helpful in referring you to a therapy provider.

Your insurance company may be able to help as well.