Susana Torres, LMSW (she/her/hers)
Therapist
Bilingual (English–Spanish)
College can be a time of opportunity and personal growth, but it can also bring stress, identity questions, and moments where you may feel overwhelmed by everything happening in your life. My goal in therapy is to provide a supportive space where you can talk openly about what you’re experiencing, feel understood, and develop tools that help you navigate challenges with confidence.
Through Amira the Healing Space, I provide counseling services to SUNY Oneonta students who may be navigating anxiety, academic pressure, identity development, relationship challenges, or life transitions. Therapy can be a place to reflect on your experiences, process difficult emotions, and develop strategies that support your well-being and personal growth.
Students often seek support with:
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Academic stress and school-related pressure
• Identity and cultural identity development
• Relationship and family challenges
• Life transitions and personal growth
I was born in Mexico and brought to the United States at the age of two as my parents sought a safer and better life for our family. I identify as Mexican American (Chicana) and take great pride in my culture and traditions. My upbringing and my mother’s resilience have strongly shaped my values and commitment to supporting others.
I earned both my undergraduate and graduate degrees from Lehman College, graduating in 2011. My path into social work began during my time there when a professor introduced me to the field and helped me realize that supporting individuals and families through life’s challenges was the work I wanted to dedicate my life to.
Throughout my career, I have worked in a variety of community and school-based mental health settings. I began as a Multidimensional Family Therapist at the Children’s Aid Society in the South Bronx, where I provided counseling to families using evidence-based models. I later worked at The Jewish Board, serving as a case planner, therapist, and supervisor within the Functional Family Therapy–Child Welfare model.
Currently, I work within a New York City high school community where I support teenagers and families as a school social worker, helping students navigate academic pressure, emotional challenges, and family dynamics.
As a woman of color, I am passionate about supporting marginalized communities and ensuring that individuals from Latino, Black, and other BIPOC communities feel seen, heard, and supported in therapy. I believe it is important to normalize conversations about mental health and provide culturally responsive care.
My clinical approach integrates psychodynamic therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Motivational Interviewing. These approaches help clients understand patterns in their thoughts and relationships while also developing practical tools to manage stress and emotional challenges.
Clients often describe me as compassionate, empathetic, and reliable. I strive to create a space where clients feel valued and comfortable sharing their experiences while working collaboratively toward healing and personal growth.
Outside of my professional life, I enjoy spending time with my family. I am a proud parent of two teenagers and two dogs, and I enjoy reading nonfiction books whenever I have the chance.
If you are navigating stress, identity questions, academic challenges, or relationship concerns during your college years, therapy can provide a supportive space to reflect, heal, and grow.
Schedule with me here:
AmiraTheHealingSpace.as.me