Dr. Susana Scotti, PSY #27173 

I am a licensed psychologist in California (PSY #27173) and Colorado (PSY #0005574), currently providing video-based services. With extensive experience in a range of settings (outpatient psychotherapy, community mental health settings, integrated medical care settings, residential and outpatient substance and alcohol recovery programs, and college counseling settings). I love working with couples and individuals experiencing a variety of issues. These include communication difficulties, recovery from trauma, anxiety, depression, stress and burnout, work transitions, self-esteem difficulties, grief, chronic pain, adjustment to adult life, and substance recovery.

I use an integrative approach, tailored to your specific concerns. I use more structured, skills-based approaches where needed and weave in-depth work where appropriate with clients that I think would benefit from that style. I meet my clients where they are and collaborate to create a customized treatment plan. 

My Why

I am passionate about helping individuals and couples get the most out of life and am committed to providing quality, customized services to meet your specific needs. I take a position of cultural humility, doing my best to think through all aspects of your identity that contribute to your life story. I grew up in a Spanish-speaking household and I am bilingual in Spanish and English, so I am able to offer sessions in Spanish. 

I see myself as a guide on your journey towards wholeness, vitality, and self-acceptance, helping to unblock and optimize your internal healing system and change your relationship to your inner world. My professional philosophy is to provide empathic, respectful, and quality care to the best of my abilities, with the goal of alleviating distress and increasing people’s sense of well-being. I put a good deal of care into my work and take my responsibilities seriously. Overall, my approach is warm, accepting, interactive and direct.

Concerns I work with:

• Relationship difficulties
• Family difficulties
• Communication issues
• Depression
• Anxiety, including panic attacks, specific phobia, social phobia and agoraphobia
• Post-traumatic Stress Disorder and trauma/Complex PTSD
• Adjustment Disorders and Bereavement
• Substance Use Issues/Addiction
• Couples counseling

Education, Training and Treatment Approaches

I obtained my Doctoral Degree in Clinical Psychology at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York, an APA accredited program. I obtained a Master’s Degree in Psychology from the City College of the City University of New York. I have provided in-depth individual, group, and couples therapy, in English and in Spanish, to diverse, underserved community and student populations, while training in integrative, psychodynamic modalities, cognitive behavioral, dialectical behavior therapy, and emotion-focused modalities. I have extensive experience in outpatient psychotherapy, community mental health settings, integrated medical health and addiction recovery settings and college counseling settings. 

I completed my postdoctoral hours at Westside Community Services and St. Anthony’s Medical Clinic in San Francisco, and my pre-doctoral internship at the Brooklyn College Personal Counseling Program in New York City. I have provided therapy and taught courses in college based and community outpatient programs, including the City College Search for Education, Elevation and Knowledge.