Dr. Susan (Sue) Futeral, MD, LCSW-C

Dr. Susan (Sue) Futeral is a Maryland clinician with 33 years of practice. She holds an MD and is an LCSW-C. She aims to make the first steps into therapy feel manageable for people who are nervous or unsure.

She helps people facing stress, anxiety, depression, grief, and issues tied to trauma and abuse. She also addresses eating concerns, addictions, sleep problems, and challenges with intimacy and self-esteem. Dr. Futeral works with people dealing with career stress, compassion fatigue, ADHD, and mood concerns such as bipolar disorder.

Her approach is straightforward and conversational. She creates an open, nonjudgmental space where people can talk about thoughts and feelings. Sessions focus on practical strategies and clearer ways to handle difficult moments.

Dr. Futeral uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy as one of her core methods. She also draws on attachment-focused ideas and mindfulness to help people notice patterns and make changes. Hypnotherapy and solution-focused techniques are available when they fit a person's goals.

People who come to her can expect collaborative planning and short-term goals when appropriate. She helps clients practice new skills between sessions and tracks progress together. Her style suits those who want a mix of practical tools and thoughtful conversation.

Approaches that guide online sessions

Dr. Futeral often uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people identify unhelpful thoughts and try practical behavior changes. CBT can be useful for anxiety, mood concerns, sleep problems, and many stress-related issues. Attachment-Based Therapy is another strand she brings into sessions to look at how early relationship patterns influence current reactions and relationship struggles. That work can help when people want clearer communication and safer emotional connection. Mindfulness Therapy is used to build present-moment awareness and calm - skills that often help with rumination, stress, and cravings.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. She will work with each person to match methods to their goals and preferences, adjusting the plan as progress is made. People can expect discussion of options and trialing techniques to see what fits best.

Online therapy with her is offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. Video is well suited for in-depth sessions and nonverbal cues, phone sessions work when bandwidth is limited or a shorter check-in is needed, and messaging or live chat can support brief updates or tools between longer appointments. These options make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life and to keep momentum between visits.