Susan Sharp
Counseling & Consulting.

My Journey as a Therapist

Being a therapist has been more of a calling than a career for me. I am so grateful for the unique relationships I’ve had with so many people over the years. I started my 30-year career as a licensed professional counselor in 1993. After earning a master’s degree in educational psychology from Texas Tech University, I got married and moved to Tucson, Arizona. For the next 10 years, I worked at Arizona’s Children’s Home as an inpatient and outpatient therapist with children, teenagers, and their families. I recall this time as working in the trenches! It was really challenging but rewarding work. I received ongoing training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Family Systems Therapy, and Solution-Focused Therapy.

My next five years were spent working as a middle school counselor so that I could have summers off and travel with my husband and children. What a great time we had! And this time gave me a special glimpse into adolescent development. After a while, I worked toward a long-held dream of having my own counseling business. My practice took off quickly, and I longed for more ways to work intensively with teens, adults, and couples.

In 2012, I completed extensive training in EMDR therapy (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing). This training, along with ongoing group supervision, transformed how I viewed and helped people. In addition, I engaged in a yearlong group book study in psychodynamic theory.

Expanding My Practice and Expertise

In 2015, I went to work for the University of Arizona as an Employee Assistance Counselor while continuing my private practice. Working at the university expanded my knowledge of mindfulness, public speaking, and working with diverse people and situations. I became very curious about mindfulness and work-life balance while helping people with stress. Working at the university felt like paddling in a raging river! I knew I needed to help myself and others manage stress.

I participated in a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction course and began doing yoga regularly. My eyes were opened to the transforming power of a daily mindfulness practice. With my newfound education in mindfulness, I trudged across campus giving presentations and workshops on stress reduction, life and work balance, mindful eating, and preparing for retirement. Creating original workshops and articles challenged me in ways I’d never experienced.

After five thrilling but exhausting years, I opted to return to private practice and pursue Imago Couples Therapy as a specialty after attending an Imago workshop. And there began my journey to become certified as an Imago Clinical Therapist and Imago Workshop Presenter. Having grown up in Texas, doing my certification work in Austin was so meaningful. In 2024, I moved back to Texas. However, Arizona still has a piece of my heart. I am dually licensed in both Texas and Arizona.

My Philosophy and Approach to Therapy

After all these years, I strongly believe that the most essential element in therapy is the relationship between client and therapist. I integrate several different theories into my work; however, Attachment Theory is the umbrella that shapes what I believe about human problems. Attachment theory originated in the mid-20th century primarily through the work of British psychologist John Bowlby. He studied and wrote about the bonds between infants and parents as essential for healthy psychological development. What we came to believe and how we learned to protect ourselves strongly impacts how we show up in our relationships now.

Essentially, our memories shape what we believe, feel and how we react to ourselves and others. By gaining insight into our early relationships, we become conscious, compassionate and choose better ways to cope in our lives. In my own life, my spirituality is essential to living life.