Trainer Biography
Susan Writer, PHD
Susan Writer has her doctorate in clinical psychology from Alliant International University and works full time as the Psychoeducation and Public Affairs Liaison for Aurora Behavioral Health Care, an acute in-patient psychiatric hospital in San Diego that treats children, adolescents, adults, and seniors struggling with mental illness and substance use disorders.
Dr. Writer has clinical expertise in mood disorders, bipolar disorder, personality disorders, simple and complex trauma, self-injurious behavior, suicide, sexual identity development, sexual orientation, gender identity, phase-of-life and end-of-life issues, grief and loss, sexual health and intimacy issues, and self-esteem and identity development. She has specialized training in working with adolescents, older adults (geriatrics), substance use disorders, and sexuality and gender.
She is an expert in crisis intervention; she works with individuals, families, schools, faith leaders, businesses, and health care providers and organizations. She helps community members navigate complex mental health and substance use disorder systems of care, develops resources, and provides psychoeducation the areas of prevention, intervention, postventions, self-care, and post-traumatic growth. She trains and consults with professionals and organizations to prevent, identify, and ameliorate burnout, compassion fatigue, vicarious trauma, and moral injury among health care providers. Dr. Writer also consults for treatment facilities to help them become safer for LGBTQIA residents by improving cultural competencies for staff and culturally appropriate policies and protocols on the organizational level.
Dr. Writer works with the San Diego VA, CSUSM, SDSU, UCSD, Palomar College, the Navy Drug and Alcohol Counselors School in Point Loma, and Poway Unified School District in addition to other organizations across the country.