About

Steven Su

USC Article featuring
Steven Su, LCSW

I have worked in social services since 2010. My work experience includes individual/group therapy sessions at UCLA Health at the Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital, moderate-to-severe mental illness cases for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation in men's and women's institutions, and individual Telehealth therapy sessions at USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work under the supervision of Ivy League and USC doctoral credentialed supervisors.  

 

I foster a safe environment to process your thoughts, and I enlist a pragmatic and supportive style of treatment. I allow you to be seen, heard, and validated. I care about my patients, and with time I can be directive and motivational. I will start where you are and give you the space and time for self-actualization and exploration.

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Curious about people and vast life experiences

I have seen a lot of things.  I've been to over a dozen countries on three continents and visited 150+ cities domestically and abroad.  I worked in movie theaters, movies, internationally branded retail stores, a pediatric dentist's office, and I've been a celebrity personal assistant!  

 

Oh the things I've seen.  

 

I've written home studies for parents wanting to adopt, getting tours of their homes and talking at the dinner table.  I've given behavioral therapy to folks with autism ages 8-22 in the privacy of their home to the busyness of Disneyland.  I've worked in a women's prison in their "SHU" (Solitary Housing Unit) and hospital.  I've worked at three men's prisons doing all sorts of things, including running LGBTQ groups on the prison yard and getting some very ill people the help they needed in the mental health crisis beds.  

 

Oh the things I've seen.

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Treatment Approaches

I endorse a strong "talk-therapy" approach to treatment, welcoming you to speak in-depth while I listen and ask Socratic questions or pose scenarios. I also use structured treatment: setting and following up on concrete goals and/or completing therapeutic work assignments. I take a hybrid approach and start where you are - if you want to talk, we talk. If you want to do goal setting or worksheets, we can do that, too.

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I invite you to contact me for a free 15-minute consultation. We will not be a good fit if you expect me to "give you advice" or "tell you what to do."  You are the expert of you and I am here to fit your needs.  I am not here to tell you what the right path is, but to show you the multitude of paths available and explore the many possible outcomes.

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Specialities

  • Anxiety, Depression, & Mood Disorders

  • Ethnic Minority issues (Black Lives Matter, Stop Asian Hate, Mixed/Multiracial issues)

  • Folks on parole, or that were previously incarcerated, or with history of involvement in justice system

  • Highly Sensitive Persons (Sensory Processing Sensitivity)

  • Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual folks and their issues

  • LGBTQIA+ affirming

  • Personality Disorders (Borderline PD, Histrionic PD, Narcissistic PD, Antisocial PD, Obsessive Compulsive PD)

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Topics 

  • Adoption and Foster Care issues

  • Assertiveness Training

  • Behavioral Issues

  • Conflict Resolution

  • Coping Skills

  • Effective Communication Skills

  • Family/Relationship issues

  • Grief/Bereavement (Death of loved ones, including family, friends, and pets)

  • Life Review 

  • Life Transitions (Life changes, new school/new job, new living situation, partnership/separation, etc.)

  • Mindfulness and Meditation

  • People with Autism Spectrum Disorder and their families

  • Self Actualization ("Who am I?  What do I stand for?  How do I want to be remembered?")

  • Self Esteem

  • Strengthening Interpersonal Relationships

 

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Educational Background

Master of Social Work, Mental Health Concentration

University of Southern California, Dean's List, Member of Phi Alpha Honor Society

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Bachelor of Arts, Sociology

University of California - Irvine

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I invite you to review my professional profile and endorsements on LinkedIn. 

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