Susan J. Novak, PhD is a Clinical Psychologist, licensed by the California Board of Psychology (#PSY22415). Dr. Novak has worked in a wide variety of settings, including treatment programs for domestic violence victims, children’s mental health, alcohol and drug treatment, abused children, families of foster children, adult mental health, chronically severely mentally ill adults, sex offenders, and transgender individuals. She has worked in private industry, for non-profit agencies, and for government entities. Dr. Novak has experience providing psychotherapy, teaching, and conducting research, but her greatest passion is helping people heal through therapy.
"Psychotherapy can be addressed from many perspectives."
Dr. Novak has been trained in many forms of therapy, including attachment theory, EMDR, cognitive behavioral therapy, family systems, and psychodynamic traditions. Psychotherapy can be addressed from many perspectives; research shows some problems benefit most when treated from certain orientations. So, Dr. Novak provides you with therapy that best fits your situation and personality.
Dr. Susan Novak
Dr. Novak is a native Californian and grew up in Orange County. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of California, Davis in 1989; a Master’s of Arts in Clinical Psychology from Chapman University in 1992; and a Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD) in Clinical Psychology from Walden University* in 2004. She completed two practicums (one for each graduate degree) at Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services for the County of Orange working with teenagers and adults. Her pre-doctoral internship was at Children and Youth Services for the County of Orange. Her post-doctoral internship was split between children’s mental health and working with adults in prison with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. She has been in private practice since 2012. From 2021-2023 she also did some contract work for Kaiser in addition to private practice.
Dr. Novak holds membership in several professional organizations: American Psychological Association, California Psychological Association, Psi Chi, and the Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abuse. She has been a guest lecturer at LaVerne University and taught about mental health and disabilities at the Correctional Rehabilitation Center. Dr. Novak also designed a treatment program for battered women and their children for a non-profit agency in central Orange County.