Meet Sue Mocniak, MSW, LISW
Sue Mocniak earned her Master in Social Work from The Ohio State University College of Social Work and her Bachelor in Social Work from Capital University, and her Associate’s degree in Mental Health from Columbus State Community College. She has worked in the mental health field for over 20 years, transferring from administrative and business roles to clinical and therapeutic services in 2010. During the course of her academic career Sue’s internships included:
Throughout the course of her academic and clinical career Sue has counseled a wide range of clients with issues such as anxiety, depression, grief, divorce, separation, low self-esteem, anger management, job stress, and life stage transition with a special interest in Pet Loss Grief as well as adults raised in addictive / rigid or chaotic family systems. Dysfunctional Religious Systems and Spiritual Abuse If you are struggling with coming out of or deciding to leave an abusive religious system you will find comfort and hope in processing your experience and learning to regain your autonomy and freedom. The shame, confusion, and isolation perpetuated in dysfunctional and abusive religious systems is insidious and has long lasting effects. The trauma often accumulated in these types of religious systems can be crippling but evidence based therapies like EMDR can alleviate the emotional intensity of those negative memories and distressing internalized negative self talk. With the trauma properly processed you can begin to grieve the losses associated with time spent in an abusive religious system. Grief If you've experienced the death of a loved one you may be experiencing a profound set of very confusing emotions. The counseling process can help you understand and process your thoughts and emotions. Concurrently, identifying and treating trauma(s) associated with the loss will help you move into a true grieving process. Grief is a normal process- trauma is not, so it is important to address the trauma first. Recognizing the needs of individuals grieving the loss of a loved one and supporting them through this process is of critical importance and customary in our society. However, pet loss continues to be a disenfranchised form of grief. Recognizing this, Sue conducted an independent study on Pet Loss Grief while a graduate student at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio and later went on to author a grief model and guide booklet specifically for those grieving the loss of a pet. |
Addictive Family Systems
Other special interests include helping individuals raised or living in troubled and addictive family systems, as well as finding help for those who are coping with addictions, which very often are one and the same. Sue believes it is not uncommon for these individuals to struggle through life with a chronic sense of loss, aloneness, shame, and social anxiety which perpetuate the cycle of addiction and poor choices. People surviving these childhoods are trauma survivors, trying very hard to guess at what a normal life should look like. We now know from scientific research that addictions to alcohol, drugs, food, gambling, sex and others, originate in the brain and are not a sign of moral or spiritual weakness or character flaws but rather biologically altered physical functioning. Those suffering from substance use disorders and their loved ones experience profound loss - emotionally, physically, relationally, and financially, as the addiction progresses. The person with the substance use disorder and their loved ones are shattered by the addictive process and need on-going support. As a survivor of such a family system, Sue understands how overwhelming life can be for these individuals and she enjoys patiently supporting and working with them towards hope and healing. Call , text or write with questions: 614-354-6962 [email protected]
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