ABOUT KATIE SUSSMAN, LCSW
For those ready to examine the life they've built and the life they want to live
I work with individuals who appear composed on the outside yet are struggling in ways that even they may not fully understand, and who are ready, perhaps for the first time, to look more closely.
.png)
Katie Sussman, LCSW
"Therapy isn't only for moments of crisis. Often, the most meaningful work begins long before anything falls apart."
MY APPROACH
My therapeutic approach is grounded in a broad and flexible training base, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), mindfulness-based approaches, and psychodynamic therapy. Rather than working from a fixed framework, I tailor therapy to your unique needs, integrating evidence-based strategies with a deeper understanding of the patterns, relationships, and experiences that shape your life.
My style is genuine, collaborative, and conversational. I believe therapy is most effective when it feels like a thoughtful dialogue rather than a rigid process. Sessions are unhurried, confidential, and tailored to you, creating a space where you can explore challenges openly, build on your strengths, and develop practical tools while gaining deeper insight into yourself.
I don't believe in fitting people into a particular model of therapy. Instead, I adapt my approach to your goals, experiences, and what will be most helpful for you. I see therapy as a collaborative process. My clinical expertise is there to support your experience, not override it, because you are the expert in your own life. By combining evidence-based practice with curiosity, flexibility, and a strong therapeutic relationship, my goal is to support meaningful, lasting change.
BACKGROUND & TRAINING
Experienced Care.
Individualized approach.
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in New York and a Registered Social Worker (RSW) in Ontario. In my Manhattan practice, I work with thoughtful adults navigating high-functioning anxiety, perfectionism, burnout, depression, relationship challenges, life transitions, ADHD, and body-focused repetitive behaviors.
Before entering private practice, I worked within the Mental Health and Addictions Program at St. Michael’s Hospital and later transitioned to Primary Care, where I provided psychotherapy to individuals with a wide range of mental health concerns. These roles gave me extensive experience supporting people through acute challenges as well as the ongoing complexities of everyday life.
Alongside my clinical work, I have contributed to mental health research, presented at professional conferences, delivered workplace mental health education, and supported the training of medical residents. I currently serve as Clinical Director at the ATTN Center while maintaining a small private practice.
I hold an Honors Specialization in Psychology from Western University and a Master of Social Work.
WHAT I WORK WITH
High-Functioning Anxiety
Persistent worry, overthinking, and the kind of tension that follows you even when things look fine on paper.
Depression
The flatness, the going-through-the-motions, and the sense that things should feel better than they do.
Emotional Disconnection
Feeling distant from your emotions, needs, or sense of self, even when life appears to be functioning well.
Perfectionism & Self-Esteem
The pressure to do things well, difficulty tolerating mistakes, and a sense of worth that can become tied to achievement.
Relationship Difficulties
Recurring patterns, difficulties with intimacy, or a partnership that has lost its footing.
ADHD
Understanding how your mind works and building a life that fits it, whether you were diagnosed recently or have known for years.
Burnout & Overwhelm
When you have been performing at full capacity for too long and something has quietly stopped working.
Life Transitions
Career shifts, relocation, loss, and new roles that ask you to reconsider who you are and what comes next.
Trauma
Past experiences that continue to shape how you feel, relate to others, or move through the present.