A different path to becoming a therapist
Archaeology, photojournalism, five children, and twenty years abroad shaped the counselor I am today.
Susan Robens LPC Associate, MEdu / MA
Most therapists follow a fairly straight path into the field. Mine was anything but.
I started my professional life as an archaeologist, digging into ancient civilizations and trying to understand the stories of people long gone. From there I moved into photojournalism, learning to see the world through a lens and tell the stories of people living through real, present-day struggles. Along the way, I lived abroad for over twenty years, raising five children in places far from where I grew up.
Those years taught me things that no textbook could. I learned what it feels like to be the outsider. I learned how children adapt, struggle, and ultimately find their way in unfamiliar worlds. I watched my own kids navigate the complex identity questions that come with growing up between cultures. And I experienced firsthand the anxiety, grief, and disorientation that major life transitions can bring.
When I finally found my way to counseling, everything I had lived through suddenly had a purpose. My experiences gave me a depth of understanding that I bring into every session. I know what it feels like to search for belonging. I know how it feels to be stuck. And I know that healing is possible, because I have lived it.
Education and training
I hold two masters degrees: a Master of Education in Mental Health Counseling from Lamar University, and a Master of Liberal Arts in Conflict Analysis from Antioch McGregor University. My undergraduate degree is in Archaeology from the State University of New York, where I studied in Jerusalem.
My graduate internship was at a residential centre for substance use recovery for mothers and children, where I trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Mindfulness-based approaches. In 2019, I earned my certification in Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), an evidence-based treatment specifically designed for PTSD and trauma recovery.
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate in the state of Oregon, practising under the supervision of Tony Lai, LPC, MA.
Professional Memberships
- American Counseling Association
- Association for Play Therapy
- Oregon Counseling Association
- American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
My approach to therapy
I integrate mindfulness into every session I offer. Not as a buzzword, but as a genuine practice that helps people slow down, notice what is happening inside them, and respond to life with intention rather than reaction.
My therapeutic foundation blends cognitive behavioral therapy with mindfulness, while always considering the full ecosystem of your life: your culture, your relationships, your history, and your hopes. I believe that all people are wired for connection and have a deep desire to find a place of significance and belonging. My role is to help you find that place.
Whether you are a child who needs to express something through play, an adult processing trauma from years ago, or someone navigating a major life transition, I will meet you where you are. We will work together at your pace, with respect for your story and your strengths.