- Family of origin patterns
- Communication problems
- Codependency and addiction
About Summer
Summer Ratliff is a LICSW (Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker) based in Minnesota with 10 years of clinical experience. She works with adults facing mood disorders such as bipolar disorder and attention-deficit challenges like ADHD. She also addresses concerns around self-worth, communication, and the ongoing effects of early family relationships.
She helps people untangle family of origin patterns that keep showing up in adult life. That can mean looking at roles you learned as a child, expectations that feel automatic, or ways of coping that once helped but now cause problems. Conversations focus on what is happening now and what patterns repeat from earlier relationships.
In sessions she takes a person-centered approach and emphasizes collaboration. Her style involves listening, asking practical questions, and helping clients try different ways of responding to old problems. Therapy can include work on emotion regulation, changing unhelpful behaviors, and improving communication skills.
She also supports people managing addiction, codependency, feelings of emptiness, and issues around abandonment and attachment. When relevant, she addresses co-occurring concerns so multiple problems can be handled together rather than in isolation.
Summer respects clients who bring faith or secular perspectives and considers those values when planning work together. To begin, people complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule a first session to see if the approach fits.
How evidence-based methods translate to online work
Many evidence-based therapeutic techniques focus on changing patterns and building practical skills. One common approach helps people notice and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, teaching concrete strategies to reduce mood swings and impulsive reactions. Another approach looks at attachment and family patterns by tracing how early relationships shape current expectations and interaction styles, helping people practice different ways of relating.Finding the right method is part of the work. The therapist will review your concerns, goals, and preferences and then suggest approaches to try. This is a collaborative process and adjustments are made if something does not fit or is not helping.
Confirm the exact session options before booking, as the biography does not list formats. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, allow for shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. It can also let people choose a session style that matches their comfort with video or phone contact. Discuss format preferences during the initial scheduling step so sessions align with daily routines and needs.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Experience
10+ years
Listed in
Minnesota
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she work with?
She works with mood disorders like bipolar and attention concerns such as ADHD, plus family of origin patterns, communication problems, codependency, addiction, and related issues.
What is her therapeutic style?
She uses a person-centered approach that emphasizes collaboration, practical questions, and trying different ways of responding to repeated patterns.
How long has she practiced clinically?
She has 10 years of experience working with adults on emotional and relational challenges.
What are her credentials and where is she located?
She is a LICSW (Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker) licensed in Minnesota and practices from that state.
Does she offer sessions in other languages?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work with her?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How are sessions scheduled and what does it cost?
Cost varies with location and sessions are billed through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working together?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the emergency numbers. Looking for someone else? Find them by surname.