Suzanne Muirheid
She/Her
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Licensed Clinical Professional Counsellor (LCPC)
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Certified Clinical Trauma Professional Level 2 (CCTP-II)
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Certified Alcohol and Other Drug Counselor (CADC)
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Safe and Sound Protocol Certified
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EMDR Certified
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EMDR Institute Facilitator
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EMDRIA Approved Consultant
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EMDR Institute Approved Consultant
Founder, Practice Director, Trauma Therapist, and EMDR Consultant
Starting therapy can feel like a big step, especially when you have been carrying difficult experiences for a long time.
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You may feel stuck in patterns you do not fully understand, caught in reactions that are difficult to manage, or alone in experiences that others may not fully see. You might also recognize how your past has affected you but still feel unsure about how to create meaningful change.
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My goal is to provide a warm and comfortable environment where you can slow down, begin making sense of what you have experienced, and explore how those experiences may still be affecting your life today.
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I work primarily with adults and provide individual therapy through Calm Mind Counseling Center in Forest Park, Willowbrook, and online.​
Meet Suzanne
I am a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, Certified Alcohol and Other Drug Counselor, Certified Clinical Trauma Professional, and the founder and Practice Director of Calm Mind Counseling Center.
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I specialize in working with adults who have experienced trauma and other painful or disruptive life experiences. This may include a single event that significantly changed your life, as well as experiences that developed gradually and continue to influence your self-worth, relationships, emotional well-being, or sense of safety.
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My approach is grounded in trauma-informed care. I help clients connect what they have experienced with the ways they learned to cope and what they may need now to feel more connected to themselves and their lives.
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Rather than viewing coping patterns as personal failures, therapy can help us understand how those patterns developed, what purpose they may have served, and whether they continue to support the life you want today.
Who I Work With
My primary areas of specialization include complex and attachment-related trauma, PTSD and anxiety.
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I also have experience helping adults navigate concerns involving:​
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Dissociation
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Addiction and substance use
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Codependency
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Relationship and family concerns
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Self-esteem and negative self-beliefs
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Stress and coping
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Grief, divorce, and major life transitions
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Pregnancy, prenatal, and postpartum concerns
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Sexual abuse and other painful life experiences
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LGBTQIA+ concerns and identity
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Mood and emotional regulation concerns
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These experiences often overlap. Trauma may affect relationships, anxiety may contribute to avoidance, or earlier experiences may continue to influence the way you see yourself and respond to present-day situations.
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Our work begins with understanding your individual history, current concerns, strengths, and goals.
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My Approach to Therapy
My therapeutic approach is trauma-informed, strength-based, and collaborative.
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I work in partnership with clients to establish treatment goals and determine the direction of therapy. Because each person brings a different history, set of strengths, and reason for seeking support, I tailor my approach to the needs of the individual rather than following one fixed method.
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My work is primarily informed by:
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Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
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Trauma-informed therapy
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Ego State Therapy and parts work
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Somatic approaches
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Attachment-based therapy
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Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
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Psychodynamic therapy
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Mindfulness-based practices
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Person-centered and strength-based therapy
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Depending on your needs, our work may involve building insight, learning to calm the nervous system, processing unresolved experiences, and understanding the parts of yourself that may feel stuck or in conflict.
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I believe therapy should provide room for both the difficult work and the human moments within it. We will make space for painful experiences when needed and find opportunities for humor when we can.
EMDR Therapy
EMDR is one of the approaches I use most frequently in my work with trauma and psychological distress. I have more than a decade of experience working with clients and providing EMDR services.
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The decision to use EMDR is based on your individual needs, history, treatment goals, and readiness. It may be used as one part of a broader therapeutic approach rather than as a stand-alone or predetermined course of treatment.
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To learn more about the treatment itself and how it is used at Calm Mind, visit our dedicated EMDR Therapy page.​
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A Collaborative Space for Healing
My goal is to create a therapeutic environment where you can feel safe enough to reflect honestly and approach difficult experiences at a manageable pace.
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Therapy may involve understanding how earlier experiences have shaped your present life, recognizing the strengths and coping strategies that helped you through difficult circumstances, and identifying changes that feel meaningful and empowering.
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I work collaboratively with clients throughout this process. Together, we establish goals, explore what is contributing to current concerns, and develop a course of treatment suited to your needs.
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Healing does not require ignoring what happened or judging yourself for how you responded. It can begin by developing a clearer understanding of your experiences and creating new possibilities for how you relate to yourself, others, and the world around you.
EMDR Consultation and Professional Training
In addition to seeing therapy clients, I support other clinicians through EMDR training, mentorship, and consultation.
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I am an EMDRIA Approved Consultant, an EMDR Institute Approved Consultant, and a facilitator with the EMDR Institute. I work with clinicians completing EMDR Basic Training requirements, pursuing EMDRIA certification, or seeking to expand their skills in trauma-focused treatment.
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My consultation specialty areas include:
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EMDR Basic Training and certification support
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Ego State Therapy and parts work
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PTSD and complex trauma
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Dissociative disorders
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Attachment trauma
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I also co-founded an international EMDR networking and informational group focused on professional connection, education, and the thoughtful application of trauma treatment.
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Clinicians interested in consultation, certification support, workshops, or professional networking can find complete information on the EMDR Certification and Consultation page.
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Founder of Calm Mind Counseling Center
I founded Calm Mind Counseling Center in 2020 to create a safe and welcoming environment where clients could access innovative, effective, and trauma-informed behavioral health care.
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Since then, Calm Mind has grown into a team of clinicians with a range of backgrounds, specialties, and therapeutic approaches. Our goal is to help each client connect with a therapist whose experience and approach align with their individual needs.
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As Practice Director, I remain involved in the clinical direction of the practice while continuing my work with therapy clients and fellow mental-health professionals.
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Mental Health Education
I also contribute articles and educational resources covering mental health, trauma, relationships, identity, self-care, parenting, and emotional well-being.
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This writing is intended to make mental-health information more approachable and to help individuals and families better understand concerns that may affect their daily lives.
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Selected articles can be found on the Calm Mind Counseling Center blog.
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Outside the Therapy Room
Outside of my professional work, I enjoy hiking, spending time outdoors, working out, playing games with my family, and relaxing with my Boston Terriers.
Begin Therapy With Suzanne
You may be seeking help for a specific experience, or you may simply recognize that something in your life no longer feels manageable or fulfilling.
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Therapy can provide an opportunity to better understand what you have experienced, how you learned to cope, and what you need now to move forward.
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To ask about current availability or determine whether working with me may be a good fit, contact Calm Mind Counseling Center.
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