I am licensed in the states of Minnesota and New Jersey. If you are a resident of these states, I am happy to schedule your telehealth sessions.

My clients love the convenience and accessibility to schedule sessions around their work and family responsibilities. You should have a smartphone or other device with audio and video capabilities, reliable Internet, and an opportunity for safety and privacy.

You can reach me by telephone and confidential voicemail @ (952) 746-7894

You may email me at susanbgarfield@gmail.com

You can send me a fax at (952) 746-7895

You can CONTACT ME here

I generally see my clients on weekdays from 7 AM – 10 PM

Sessions are usually a full hour. They can be customized based on your needs and preferences.

If you need to cancel your appointment and do so with at least 24 hours’ notice, there will be no charge for your cancelled appointment. Should you cancel with shorter notice, you will be charged 50% of your fee. If you fail to contact me and do not show for your appointment, you will be charged the full fee.

Confidentiality is one of the cornerstones of our relationship. Knowing that you can say anything to me as your therapist and it will remain in the room helps you feel safe and builds trust between you and me.

For this reason, I am legally and ethically bound to keep our sessions confidential and not share with anyone else what was talked about.

However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. For example, if I have reason to believe that you are a danger to yourself or others, I must break that confidence to make sure that you and/or others are safe. I am also a mandated reporter for reporting child abuse or neglect.

There may also be times when you would like me to consult with someone else about your treatment, such as your doctor or psychiatrist, to coordinate care or clarify information. In cases such as these, I would have you sign a release of information where you give me permission to speak with the other party.

If I am working under a Court Order, such as your Parenting Consultant or Custody Evaluator, this is not a confidential process. You will review and sign releases agreeing that I may share information with the Court or a third party per Court Order.

I generally accept insurance on an out-of-network basis. You pay the full amount up front. If you have out-of-network benefits, you may be directly reimbursed by your insurance plan. My clients then use this reimbursement to pay for their future sessions.

It is up to you to check with your insurance company to determine your plan’s coverage and reimbursement rates – and submit the documentation I provide. You can also submit this documentation for reimbursement under your HSA or FSA benefits. Here are some reasons why I choose to handle insurance this way:

First, insurance through a provider network requires that you be given a psychiatric diagnosis, and other personal details about you stay on your medical record for life. I cannot guarantee where that diagnosis goes after it leaves my office. Life changes, relationship problems, and parenting support are not mental health disorders.

Second, often insurance can dictate the kind of support you get. They often intrude upon our work together in defining the length, frequency and duration of our sessions. This is a decision you and I should determine together, based on your needs, not the needs of the insurance company managing costs.

Third, because I do not administer insurance paperwork, I spend less time following up on billing, filing claims and negotiating with insurance companies. This allows me to provide more time and focused care on you.

Payment is due at the time of the session. I accept cash, Venmo, debit card, check, major credit cards, PayPal, and FSA /HSA debit cards.

I am welcoming, warm, interested and always assessing and looking for connections. Our sessions will be interactive. I do a lot of validating and suggesting, more than most.

I offer a safe, non-judgmental place of compassion, empathy and sometimes a little humor to ease some of the tension. I like to leave you with something you can take home. My clients often report that years later they remember something I said or did that made them feel genuinely supported that they continue to carry with them.

I received a BA in Government and Psychology from Clark University. I guess I’ve always loved the convergence of law and psychology. As a paralegal, I’ve worked in a human resources capacity, often getting reprimanded for spending too much time listening to employees. I’ve always enjoyed supporting people in their interactions with others and in reaching their full potential.

Ten years later as a single parent, I returned to school to follow my passion, attending the Columbia University School of Social Work in NYC to get my MSW, majoring in clinical practice.

I have conducted over 500 custody evaluations, countless mediation and co-parenting sessions, and have been court-appointed in over 100 PC cases.

I have been an active member of NASW, since 1989, NAFC and AFCC since 2002 and have participated in countless trainings, seminars and continuing education as required by my Social Work Licensing board. I am a Rule 114 Qualified neutral and serve as an expert witness to the Court on matters related to the best interest of children in custody matters. I have devoted over 25 years of my career to supporting parents and their children through the divorce process.

Indeed, I have. Having traveled this path, it uniquely qualifies me to have learned the lessons I teach you in separating, co-parenting and maintaining the commitment to caring your child deserves.

It was the supportive counseling and coaching I received during my divorce that inspired me to do this work and guides my practice and approach as your strengths-based supportive link to resources. I partner with you to take care of yourself, so you can take care of those you love.

As your coach, I partner with you to take care of yourself, navigate the system and make good decisions for you and your children. I do not provide legal advice or counsel; instead I help you get the most efficient use of time with your attorney, so you can fund your children’s college education, not your attorney’s children’s!

I have specific training on addressing intense emotional issues that often create impasses or unnecessary emotional and financial costs in settling disputes. I help you manage your emotions to think more clearly, learn to try new skills and behaviors, teaching you how to respond instead of react and generally feel more confident about participating in a negotiated process.

Lawyers appreciate having clients become more cooperative and self-aware in contested situations, and clients who have these skills present in a way that increases the likelihood of a better outcome for you and your children.

Many clients present for individual counseling looking to make this very important decision. In a safe and supportive setting, I partner with you to assist you in assessing your unique situation, using a comprehensive analysis to provide insight and guidance to help you sort through your dilemma and reflect on your feelings to facilitate you coming to the best decision for you and your family. I offer resources and supports regardless of your decision.

You can CONTACT ME here

for a free 30-minute telephone consultation to see if we might be a good fit. If we are, I will invite you to schedule an appointment for us to meet. If we are not, I will refer you to other resources that would be helpful to you.