PTC

Susan Merrick

Licensed Clinical Social Worker

*** NOT ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS *** 25 years as a clinician for people with life threatening, life-altering & life-limiting illness has equipped me with unique understanding of /compassion for patient's, caregiver's & loved one's experiences, emotions, challenges & existential questions.

Services

Individual Therapy

Individual Therapy

My Approach

I have always enjoyed adapting my approach to the unique person in front of me. I draw on many theoretical and practice models and my work is almost always values based - in other words, focusing on what brings meaning to one's life, while working through the healing and problem-solving process. Clients have told me that I am easy to talk to, I listen carefully (and remember), am a calming presence and appreciate that even in the most difficult situations, we can find humor together. I specialize in EMDR trauma reprocessing. Dealing with cancer is in itself a trauma, but often triggers old unresolved traumas. Grief is not a linear experience, is unique to each individual, and often triggers previous grief experiences. EMDR can release negative emotions attached to memories and can replace negative self-talk with more positive beliefs, as well as increase individual resiliency coping with future difficulties. It extremely satisfying to guide people as EMDR improves their lives.

My Background

In 1993, I obtained my MSW in Clinical Adult Health & Mental Health (CUA). I’ve been licensed at the Clinical level since 1995. My experience includes HIV/AIDS, home hospice & oncology in two integrated Cancer Care Centers. My passion is providing therapeutic support across the cancer continuum including: * Newly diagnosed, in shock, thrust into a surreal world with strange terms and multiple medical providers, trying to “tough it out” through treatment * Survivors with stage I-III cancers “cured,” congratulated & launched back into a static world while their lives have been forever changed by cancer. * People with stage IV cancers living with cancer as a chronic illness, through genetic testing & immunotherapy, experiencing a unique set of emotions and concerns. * Those with incurable cancer experiencing fear, anticipatory grief, regrets and end-of-life issues. * Loved ones & caregivers of those who don’t survive experience complex grief not well understood in our culture