Meet Susan Zacharia

On Everyday Orthodox, Susan is a licensed clinical social worker and has been providing mental health care for the veteran population for 8 years, and she has a passion for advocating for mental health resources within Orthodox parish settings, particularly in ethnic parishes where the stigma of seeking care is prevalent. She is the current Vice-President of OCAMPR. Prior to this role, she served as the co-chair for the Needs Assessment Working Group with the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops' Mental Health Task Force. She also served, for 6 years, as the Diocese of South-West America Secretary for the Department of Counseling Services with the Malankara (Indian) Orthodox Syrian Church, where she was raised. She now attends St. Makarios the Great Orthodox Mission in Chicago, where she and her husband, Brandon, await a new addition to their family in October. In her free time, she enjoys baking, reading, hosting family & friends, staying active and walks to the great Lake Michigan.