Therapist Cathy Smith Photo

Cathy Smith, LPC

Stress, Anxiety Relationships Family conflicts Trauma, Abuse Depression
Video Phone Live Chat Messaging

About me

Having graduated with undergrad degrees in Sociology (Criminology) and Spanish, I began working in a residential treatment home for youth with emotional and mental illnesses. My early work there, sparked my interest in psychology and counseling. After starting our family, I returned to school to earn a teaching certificate and a Masters degree in Special Education. After many years of teaching in a variety of settings; institutional, public, private and alternative education, I felt I really wanted more time to listen to and talk with my students. Because of this, I returned to the university once more to complete a Masters degree in Counseling Psychology, earning licensure as a Limited License Psychologist and a Licensed Professional Counselor.

Relationship is the key to effective counseling just as it is to effective teaching. Being open to learning about the life of your client; their ethnicity, culture, religion, sexual preference, work, and belief systems is important as a therapist. Knowing your own limitations is also necessary. Life is very difficult at times, especially in these times! Helping clients to live their best lives is very important work.

I use a variety of methods in working with clients. My clients’ ages have ranged from four years to seventy nine years. I work with people with depression, anxiety, PTSD, grief, trauma, sexual and physical abuse, parenting problems, and even learning disabilities and people on the autism spectrum. Motivational interviewing, client centered work, solution focused, psychoeducational work, mindfulness and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy are tools that I use, based on what the client wants to achieve and their individual needs. Permeating all that I do is a strength based approach to looking at the person, always building on and utilizing their own strengths to partner with them to become healthy and happier.

Professional experience

18yrs in practice
Stress, Anxiety Relationships Family conflicts Trauma, Abuse Depression

Additional areas of focus: Addictions, LGBT, Grief, Intimacy-related issues, Eating disorders, Sleeping disorders, Parenting issues, Anger management, Self esteem, Career difficulties, Bipolar disorder, Coping with life changes, Coaching, Compassion fatigue, ADHD, Abandonment, Aging and geriatric issues, Autism and Asperger Syndrome, Blended family issues, Body image, Caregiver issues and stress, Codependency, Communication problems, Control issues, Coping with natural or human-caused disaster, Domestic violence, Emptiness, First responder issues, Forgiveness, Guilt and shame, Isolation / loneliness, Jealousy, Life purpose, Midlife crisis, Mood disorders, Multicultural concerns, Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD, Panic disorder and panic attacks, Phobias, Postpartum depression, Post-traumatic stress, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), Self-harm, Sexual assault and abuse, Smoking / vaping cessation, Women's issues, Young adult issues

Clinical approaches: Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy

Services offered

Video
Phone
Live Chat
Messaging

Languages

EnglishSpanish

License information

MI LPC 6401010540

Reviews

These quotes represent just a few of the many positive reviews that we have received for Cathy Smith. We don't pay anyone to provide their review and they are all made voluntarily. Some people's experience receiving therapy with BetterHelp might be different.

I love my sessions with Cathy, she has worked with me and supported me for over a year and a half. I have seen several therapists over my adult life and she has by far, helped me have the most positive impact on my life. She's always there, she always checks in with me during the week, whether it's checking in on an issue I have been working through, or just to remind me how far I have come and that's she's proud of me. I highly recommend her.

Written on Nov 29, 2024 after therapy with Cathy for 1 year and 6 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, addictions, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, eating disorders, self esteem, coaching, and adhd

Cathy is very friendly and always shows her utmost respect during our sessions.

Written on Nov 18, 2024 after therapy with Cathy for 6 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, grief, intimacy-related issues, eating disorders, sleeping disorders, self esteem, anger management, coping with life changes, compassion fatigue, and adhd

She's great

Written on Nov 06, 2024 after therapy with Cathy for 1 year and 4 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, addictions, relationship issues, family conflicts, grief, and self esteem

She’s extremely compassionate and always tries to help me meet the goals I’ve set

Written on Sep 16, 2024 after therapy with Cathy for 2 years and 1 month on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, self esteem, career difficulties, and adhd

So far I’ve had two sessions with Cathy. She es a lovely lady. Very knowledgeable and very honest. Would definitely recommend her over other options. She listens. She understands and gives great tools to feel better little by little.

Written on Aug 29, 2024 after therapy with Cathy for 2 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, grief, intimacy-related issues, sleeping disorders, self esteem, career difficulties, coping with life changes, and compassion fatigue

Cathy is great! She is a great listener and always makes sure that I bring happiness to myself. Thank you Cathy!

Written on Aug 13, 2024 after therapy with Cathy for 2 months on issues concerning stress, anxiety, lgbt, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, grief, sleeping disorders, and self esteem