01 · Who Suzanne works with

Suzanne works with relationship issues, family conflicts and grief

Suzanne lists 11 specialisms and 25 further focus areas. Specialisms are the subjects Suzanne chose to list first, which is the closest a listing gets to “this is my actual practice”.

02 · In Suzanne's own words

What Suzanne says about the work

Reproduced in full and unedited - not summarised, not tightened, not rewritten in a house voice.

As a licensed therapist with over three decades of experience in Michigan and overseas, I specialize in supporting individuals through life's complex emotional landscapes. My practice centers on helping clients navigate relationship challenges, family dynamics, grief, and personal growth. I bring deep expertise in addressing issues like self-esteem, communication barriers, and midlife transitions.

My approach is compassionate and holistic, focusing on empowering individuals to develop self-love, overcome isolation, and rediscover their sense of purpose. I have extensive experience supporting older adults, caregivers, and those managing chronic health challenges. Whether you're struggling with workplace stress, family conflicts, or personal transformation, I'm committed to walking alongside you with understanding and professional guidance.

Drawing from years of clinical experience, I create a supportive environment where clients can explore their emotions, heal from past wounds, and build resilience. My goal is to help you develop meaningful strategies for personal growth, improved relationships, and emotional well-being.

Suzanne Boak, on the BetterHelp listing · read 9 Oct 2026

03 · How Suzanne works

The 5 approaches Suzanne lists, in plain English

These are the clinical methods Suzanne lists. The descriptions are Maker Therapy's, not Suzanne's - a general explanation of what each method is, so the list means something before you have spoken to anybody. They are not a claim about how Suzanne runs a session.

Client-Centred TherapyPerson-centred · Rogerian

The therapist does not steer toward a technique or a diagnosis. They offer sustained, non-judgemental attention and reflect back what they hear, on the premise that people find their own direction when they are genuinely listened to. Often what people mean by “someone who just gets it”.

Eye Movement Desensitisation and ReprocessingEMDR

A structured trauma protocol in which you hold a distressing memory in mind while following a repeated side-to-side cue. The mechanism is still debated; the outcome data in post-traumatic stress is strong enough that it appears in national treatment guidelines.

The Gottman Method

A couples approach built on decades of observational research into what distinguishes relationships that last. Structured and assessment-led: it maps friendship, conflict and shared meaning, then works on the specific mechanics of how the two of you argue.

Motivational InterviewingMI

A way of talking about change with somebody who is genuinely in two minds about it. The therapist does not argue for the change; they help you say your own reasons out loud, which is the part that predicts whether it happens. Common around substance use and health behaviour.

Solution-Focused Brief TherapySFBT

Starts from where you want to end up rather than from how you got here. Sessions look for the times the problem is already smaller and work out what is different about those, so the number of sessions tends to be short and the work concrete.

04 · What happens next

From this page to a first session

Suzanne practises through BetterHelp, so the route in is BetterHelp's. This is that sequence, written by Maker Therapy from the platform's published process - not a description of Suzanne's own practice, and not a promise about how quickly anything happens.

1. A questionnaire, not a booking form

   BetterHelp opens with a set of questions about what you are dealing with, what you want from therapy, and any preferences on the therapist. You are not booking Suzanne at this point.

2. Naming Suzanne specifically

   BetterHelp matches algorithmically by default, so asking for Suzanne is a step you have to take. There is a field for requesting a specific therapist during sign-up, and you can switch afterwards from your account. Starting from a link on this page does not by itself assign you to Suzanne.

3. If the caseload is full

   You will be offered somebody else rather than put on a waitlist. Worth knowing, because it is easy to assume a match is the person you asked for.

4. The first conversation

   A first session is typically history and orientation: what brought you, what has been tried, what you want to be different. It is also where the questions in the next section belong.

5. If the fit is wrong

   Changing therapist on BetterHelp does not need a reason. A first session that does not click is common and is not a verdict on therapy. That option existing is the main practical difference between a platform and a private practice.

05 · Before you commit

4 questions worth asking Suzanne

Built from what Suzanne actually lists, so they are answerable and specific rather than generic. Maker Therapy's, not Suzanne's - Suzanne has not seen them and is under no obligation to answer any of them.

• “You list both Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing and Client-Centred Therapy. Which do you lean on with someone like me?”

  Those two point in different directions - one structured and led by the therapist, the other led by you. The answer tells you what the sessions will actually feel like.

• “How do you decide when someone is ready to work on a traumatic memory itself?”

  Pacing is the biggest safety question in trauma work. A clear, unhurried answer here matters more than any credential.

• “With 32 years in, what has changed most in how you work?”

  Long experience is only an advantage if it has been examined. This tends to surface whether it has.

• “How do you handle the gap between sessions if something comes up?”

  On BetterHelp this varies a great deal by therapist. Better to know the rhythm now than to discover it on a bad week.

06 · Practical details

Credentials and licensing

Credential

LMSW

Licensed in

Michigan

Licence

MI LMSW 6801064436

Licence number

6801064436

Licence expires

19 Jul 2028

NPI

1659128080

Years in practice

32

Gender

Female

Languages

English

International clients

Not accepted

Listed since

15 May 2026

07 · Provenance

Where every line on this page came from

Suzanne's name, credential, state, subjects, approaches and biography are read from BetterHelp's therapist roster, which Maker Therapy re-reads once a day; this page reflects the reading taken on 9 Oct 2026. The licence number and NPI are cross-checked against public registers.

The plain-English method descriptions, the first-session walkthrough and the questions are written by Maker Therapy and labelled as such wherever they appear.

Maker Therapy is not BetterHelp, does not take bookings, and has not met Suzanne. There are no reviews or ratings on this page because we have no way to verify one. If you start therapy through a link here, we may be paid a commission - it does not change your price and it does not affect who appears here or in what order.

Something on this page wrong or out of date? Report it and it will be checked against the source.