Suangsmorn Stapatyanon

Hello, I'm Dr. Suan Stapatyanon and I have been licensed as a Psychologist for over 20 years. I specialize in working with adolescents (13-17) and emerging adults (18-29) in community and educational settings and support them in developing skills to manage different life challenges. I take a humanistic and integrative approach to therapy and strive to provide a space that is safe and nonjudgmental while addressing each client's unique needs.

My approach

I utilize a humanistic and integrative approach to therapy. I believe that the core of a client-therapist relationship is safety, trust, and partnership. When a client feels valued and understood, they will have the confidence to discover and make positive choices in their life. Additionally, I take a holistic approach to understanding each client's unique needs and integrate techniques from different psychological perspectives that are shown to be effective in treating those specific needs.

My focus

I specialize in working with adolescents (13-17) and emerging adults (18-29) who are struggling with relationship/peer, family, behavioral, emotional, self-esteem, academic, and career challenges. My clients and their families look for support to address different life changes and stressors, such as starting college, loss/grief, dating/relationships, navigating independence, and intergenerational family conflict. They are also looking for strategies to effectively manage symptoms related to mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, ADD/ADHD, adjustment disorders, and trauma.

My communication style

It is not easy to talk about our difficulties and change our habits and behaviors. I strive to provide a welcoming and safe space for clients to be able to explore their challenges, recognize their strengths, and develop new strategies for personal and interpersonal growth. I invite clients to have an active voice in their treatment, while also offering my professional perspective and evidence-based therapeutic strategies to support their growth.

My journey to mental healthcare

I grew up as a "sensitive" and "stubborn" child in a culture and generation that did not embrace these qualities. Fortunately, I had people in my life who nurtured this side of me, supported me through difficult times, and gave me the confidence to take action for my own life. In college, I learned about psychology as a major and career path, and this aligned with my values​ , personal experiences, and what I wanted to contribute. 30 years after choosing psychology as a college major, I continue to be proud of being a part of this profession. I especially enjoy interacting with and learning from clients each day.

My goals for you

I believe that goal-setting is an important process of treatment. We all want to see that our efforts are contributing to our growth. My clients and I work together early in treatment to define goals that are meaningful to them and will contribute to improved functioning in a reasonable time frame. These are called SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-Sensitive). We check in on the progress and make adjustments as needed.

My first session with you

During the first session, we will spend time to understand what you are looking for in therapy. We will answer questions or address concerns you may have so you know what to expect, and that you feel comfortable in being part of this collaborative effort. It's also okay if you don't know what to talk about during this session, and we can navigate that together. The first session can be an opportunity for you to also decide if working with me is a good fit for you. Remember, you have a voice in your treatment.