Suzanne E. Mikkelson, Ph.D.

Clinical Specialties: Trauma (including EMDR Intensives), EMDR Consultation & Training, AAMFT Supervision, Spiritual & Ministry Issues, Couples & Families.

Dr. Suzanne E. Mikkelson is our Clinical Director. She is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and an AAMFT Approved Supervisor. She has over 30 years of counseling and supervisory experience in both agency settings and private practice. She has extensive experience with military service members and their families. She has a deep admiration for the perseverance and commitment clients bring to the counseling process. Suzanne is highly collaborative in her approach with clients and respects clients’ wisdom in the counseling journey and their right to choose how to move forward in their lives. She has clinical expertise in such areas as trauma recovery, adultery recovery, military and veteran issues, parenting, couple and family issues, spiritual issues, and clinical supervision.

Suzanne holds a B.A. in Psychology from Duke University (1984), an M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy from Reformed Theological Seminary (1995), and a Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision from Regent University (2015). Suzanne is an EMDRIA Approved Consultant and Trainer in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) trauma therapy. She provides training and certification in EMDR to clinicians locally and around the U.S. who wish to improve their expertise in EMDR. Suzanne speaks nationally and internationally on PTSD, military issues, and ethics, and she has published articles on these topics. She has served on university faculty teaching graduate courses in a variety of counseling subjects.  She previously served as the director of the master’s program in marriage and family counseling for Liberty University. Suzanne is trained in several evidence-based interventions including Gottman Method Couples Therapy (Level 2), Parenting with Love and Logic, SYMBIS, Emotion-Focused Couples Therapy, Cognitive Processing Therapy, Attachment-Based Family Therapy, Collaborative Problem Solving, Couple Communication, Seven Habits of Highly Effective Families, Prepare/Enrich, and EMDR (EMDRIA Approved Consultant and Trainer).

Suzanne has been married to her husband, David, a retired U.S. Army chaplain, since 1984 and is a native of North Carolina. They are blessed to have three adult sons who are all married, and six wonderful grandchildren. In addition to spending unhurried time with the Lord, Suzanne enjoys connecting with family and friends, hiking in the mountains, and international travel.