Business Details
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in SLO
As a licensed marriage and family therapist with over 20 years of experience, I specialize in helping individuals, children, and families navigate complex emotional and behavioral challenges. My practice focuses on uncovering unconscious patterns that impact daily life, utilizing evidence-based approaches like attachment-focused therapy, play therapy, and sandplay therapy. I work with clients facing grief, trauma, anxiety, and relationship difficulties, offering personalized treatment plans tailored to each individual's unique needs.My background includes extensive work with young children and families through programs like Martha's Place and Hospice of San Luis Obispo County. I integrate complementary therapeutic techniques to create a supportive environment where clients can build on their strengths and achieve meaningful personal growth. My approach emphasizes practical feedback and skill development to help clients overcome obstacles and reach their full potential.
Services
Attachment Therapy
Play Therapy
Sandplay Therapy
Grief Counseling
Parenting Support
Anxiety Treatment
Child Behavioral Therapy
Family Counseling
Trauma Recovery
Stress Management
Highlights and features
- We offer 20+ years of specialized experience with young children and families
- Our therapist is trained in advanced techniques for developmental trauma recovery
- We provide personalized treatment plans tailored to each client's unique needs
- Our approach integrates evidence-based methods like sandplay and play therapy
- We maintain a supportive environment for addressing complex emotional challenges
Services
Attachment Focused Therapy
Specialized treatment addressing disrupted parent-child relationships through evidence-based interventions. This approach helps rebuild secure attachments in children experiencing behavioral or emotional difficulties. Therapists use play-based techniques to strengthen family connections and support healthy developmental progress.
Sandplay Therapy
Non-verbal therapeutic approach using miniature figures and sand trays to facilitate emotional expression. Particularly effective for children and trauma survivors, this method allows clients to externalize inner experiences through symbolic play. The therapist interprets these creations to guide healing and personal growth.
Play Therapy
Developmentally appropriate treatment for children aged 3-6 using play as a communication tool. This method helps young clients express complex emotions and process difficult experiences through structured therapeutic activities. The therapist observes and interprets play patterns to address behavioral and emotional challenges.
Grief Counseling
Specialized support for individuals coping with bereavement or significant life transitions. The practice addresses complicated grief patterns in both adults and children through personalized therapeutic approaches. Techniques focus on processing emotions and developing healthy coping mechanisms for loss-related challenges.
Parenting Support
Guidance for parents navigating child behavioral issues and developmental challenges. The service provides practical strategies for managing difficult behaviors and understanding children's emotional needs. Focuses on building effective communication and disciplinary approaches tailored to each family's unique situation.
People
Gorter, Suzanne
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Licensed therapist with 20+ years experience working with children and families. Specializes in developmental trauma and attachment issues. Holds a Master's in Counseling Psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute. Former intern at Martha's Place and Hospice of San Luis Obispo County.
Questions
What therapeutic approaches do you specialize in?
I specialize in attachment-focused therapy, play therapy, and sandplay therapy for treating emotional and behavioral challenges in children and families.
Do you work with children of all ages?
I specialize in working with children aged birth to 5 years, though I also provide therapy for older adolescents and adults.
What types of issues do you commonly treat?
Common issues include trauma recovery, anxiety, grief counseling, behavioral difficulties, and parent-child relationship challenges.
How do you involve families in treatment?
Family counseling is integrated through attachment-focused approaches that strengthen parent-child relationships and improve family communication patterns.
What training do you have in child therapy?
I have specialized training in sandplay therapy from the C.G. Jung Institute and extensive experience working with young children in therapeutic settings.
How do you approach personalized treatment plans?
Each plan is tailored to individual needs using evidence-based methods, combining play therapy, attachment work, and practical skill development strategies.
