Hi – I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Washington State and a National Certified Counselor. While I have an MS in clinical psychology, I also have a BA in business administration, having managed companies for many years. It took a while but I finally got around to honoring an inner calling to become a therapist, which is a privilege and very rewarding.
While I’m experienced in treating a variety of challenges, I specialize in working with anxiety and mood related conditions, grief/loss, and unresolved trauma. I also work with clients experiencing interpersonal conflict, parenting concerns, career related stressors, and stage of life angst.
My counseling approach is client-centered and honors a person’s unique nature and needs. Depending on the challenges at hand, this may involve teaching coping skills that help reduce immediate symptoms; insights-based work to discover how our life experiences shape and form us; and developing behaviors that help people transition from suffering to focusing on what they find important and meaningful.
Our inner drive for happiness and capacity for growth moves me. You may not feel particularly resilient right now, but do know that reaching out for help demonstrates courage and strength.
I look forward to meeting and talking with you. Be assured that I’m personable by nature, engage openly and respectfully, and aim to walk alongside you on your journey!
Additional areas of focus: Relationship issues, Family conflicts, Trauma and abuse, Parenting issues, Anger management, Career difficulties, Coaching, Compassion fatigue, Abandonment, Attachment issues, Avoidant personality, Caregiver issues and stress, Co-morbidity, Codependency, Communication problems, Control issues, Emptiness, Family problems, Fatherhood issues, Guilt and shame, Isolation / loneliness, Jealousy, Life purpose, Men's issues, Midlife crisis, Money and financial issues, Mood disorders, Multicultural concerns, Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD, Panic disorder and panic attacks, Personality disorders, Post-traumatic stress, Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling), Social anxiety and phobia, Workplace issues
Clinical approaches: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT), Existential Therapy, Mindfulness Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Psychodynamic Therapy
WA LMHC LH61149661
These quotes represent just a few of the many positive reviews that we have received for Mark 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.
Mark is an excellent therapist. He is a great listener and a proactive problem solver. I really like the way he challenges some of my assumptions, and encourages me to see things from different perspectives.
Written on Sep 26, 2023 after therapy with Mark for 1 month on issues concerning stress, anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, grief, parenting issues, anger management, career difficulties, coaching, and compassion fatigue
Excellent therapist who has helped me work through the issues I wanted to change. Mark is a great listener who provides insightful feedback.
Written on Feb 24, 2023 after therapy with Mark for 3 months on issues concerning depression, trauma and abuse, self esteem, and adhd
Mark has been a great at helping me process some of the hardest conversations that I have had with myself or others. I've noticed a change in my day to day attitude since I have been working with him. I would encourage anyone to give him a chance at helping you with the same.
Written on Feb 04, 2023 after therapy with Mark for 3 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, intimacy-related issues, parenting issues, and bipolar disorder
This is the first therapist I've had in years and I love working with Mark, he is consistent, works with a busy schedule, listens and is quick to respond if I need to get ahold of him, definitely recommend him to anyone that needs a flexible therapist and who listens well and takes everything into consideration that you're going through and dealing with
Written on Jun 08, 2022 after therapy with Mark for 1 month on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, and self esteem