Meet Our Team - Susan Howe
Susan Howe, LMFT
Position at the Hallowell Todaro ADHD Center, Palo Alto:
Senior Therapist
How long have you been working at Hallowell Todaro ADHD?
5 months
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in the Midwest (Illinois and Michigan)
What are your favorite books / TV shows / movies?
My preferred books are nonfiction, graphic novels, and poetry. I am a big fan of podcasts and I follow a number of writers, journalists, artists and podcasters online for their ever-evolving content and dynamic dialogue.
What’s your favorite sport and/or sports team?
Baseball, especially if I can see it live.
Complete the following sentences:
When I’m not at work, you can find me...
outside.
When I want to de-stress, I...
listen to music, go for a walk, spend time with friends.
My favorite time of year is...
spring, for the weather and the opening of the baseball season!
My favorite thing to cook is...
coffee? I quite enjoy the process of making a really good cup of coffee.
The best gift I ever received was…
friendship.
If I could travel anywhere in the world, I’d go to...
Southeast Asia.
What led you to pursue a career helping others?
I sort of fell into it. My first job out of college (as an undergrad) was at a shelter for runaway and homeless teens; it was interesting, challenging and such fun. I was lucky to have incredible colleagues to learn from and my own lived experience which helped me to relate to the teens at the shelter. My role changed quite a bit, and with each new task or duty it became clearer that this was my path.
What education, skills, and expertise do you bring to your role?
I have a Masters in Counseling Psychology from the University of San Francisco and I am a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the state of California. I have worked in non-profit, community-based organizations throughout my career and held both clinical and leadership positions, granting me the ability to be an agent of change on an individual and system/community level. I have experience providing trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and gender-affirming care to young adults, adults, and their chosen family. Areas of expertise include: neurodiverse individuals, LGBTQ+ individuals and their families, young and emerging adulthood, marginalized populations, complex trauma, identity concerns (i.e., cultural, gender, sexuality), major life transitions, workplace or academic stress, and performance anxiety.
Who/what inspires you?
I am so easily inspired. I find humanity inspiring. I find nature inspiring. I find words, music, art, and stories inspiring. The key for me, is to take the time to be inspired. The world moves so quickly and it is so easy to get caught up in the frenetic pace, making it so easy to miss…well, everything.
What’s your personal philosophy/approach toward the work you do?
I approach my work with the philosophy that individuals make positive change when they feel empowered, hopeful, and understood by the people they trust.
What is one small thing people can do to improve their lives and increase their happiness?
Increase the laughter in your days and in your life. Laughter is a natural reaction, it is universal across cultures, it connects us to others, it helps us physically and chemically, and it provides mental clarity.
We provide coaching and therapy to help people manage a variety of cognitive and emotional conditions.