Specializations
Adolescents,Adults,Anger,Anxiety,Caregiver Stress,Depression,Domestic Violence,Elderly and Aging,Families,Grief Recovery,Stress Management
Susan Cardillo-Cunningham, DSW, LCSW is a licensed clinical social worker and Program Director with the Connecticut Department of Children and Families, where she leads initiatives focused on community engagement, program development, and performance management within complex public systems. She earned her Doctor of Social Work from Southern Connecticut State University in May 2025 and brings nearly 30 years of professional experience in child welfare, mental health services, and social work leadership.
Dr. Cardillo-Cunningham is the founder of Supporting Courageous Change, a counseling and consulting practice that utilizes trauma-informed, strengths-based, and evidence-informed approaches to support individuals and organizations navigating transition, identity development, and systemic change. Her clinical and administrative experience informs her teaching and scholarship, grounding theory in practice.
Dr. Cardillo-Cunningham serves as an adjunct faculty in the MSW programs at Southern Connecticut State University and the University of Connecticut, where she is committed to integrating classroom learning with field education. Dr. Cardillo-Cunningham's teaching emphasizes professional identity development, reflective practice, and interprofessional collaboration in addressing complex client and community needs.
Her research and scholarly interests focus on athlete mental health, ambiguous loss, identity transition, and the experiences of student-athletes navigating injury, role change, and transition out of sport. She is particularly interested in how interprofessional collaboration among social workers, athletic trainers, healthcare providers, and academic professionals enhances holistic support for student-athletes and promotes equity within collegiate sport systems.
Dr. Cardillo-Cunningham is certified in sport social work and is an active member of the NASW–Connecticut Chapter and the Alliance of Social Workers in Sports.
Describe your current practice:
I currently provided in-person and telehealth therapy and psycho-education through my private practice Supporting Courageous Change, LLC in CT. I work with adolescents and adults navigating depression, anxiety, and life stressors, with a specialization in supporting student and professional athletes coping with injury, identity shifts, and major life transitions. Grounded in systems theory, I help individuals explore the different areas of their lives to better understand sources of stress while building coping skills that strengthen confidence, self-esteem, and overall well-being. I believe everyone has the capacity to live their best life.
Where did you get your MSW?
Fordham University
What was your area of concentration?
Organizational Administration
What continuing education activities have you been involved in during the past year?
Changing the Game in Athlete Mental Health: Understanding Proactive versus Reactive Approaches
Unique Considerations for Female Athletes
Richard Sears' Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) Certificate Program
University of Alabama DSW Research Conference
NASW CT Annual Conference 2025
Supervision Fees:
$$100 per hour
County:
Fairfield
Address where the supervision will take place:
181 Captains Walk, Stratford, CT 06614
Email courageouschangellc@gmail.com
Website(if available):