I believe that humans are like trees. When a tree is bearing fruit that isn’t sufficient, you can cut off the fruit and the branches and hope it regrows to what you want. But, the REAL issue is the roots!
We do the same thing in our own lives. When we have habits that prevent us from functioning in a healthy way, we try so many temporary solutions and hope things will be better. Reality is…until we address the roots of those habits, we continue to set ourselves up to experience regret, hopelessness, and other feelings that lead us to doubt the fact that it CAN get better!
My approach is to look at the whole picture to better address the issues that hinder us. Of course there will be pain and other feelings that may come up. With that said, we will ALWAYS go at YOUR speed. We will NOT dig into places that you are not ready for. I hope that with our continued relationship, that vulnerability will grow, and we can finally face those things together.
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor by the state of Georgia. I have my Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy and my Bachelor’s in Sociology and Anthropology. I have worked in private practice, prison, school, hospital, and partial hospitalization settings.
On a personal note, when I am not providing therapy, I am a performer in NYC. Musical Theatre is a passion of mine and Broadway is definitely the end goal for me. I'm also in the process of learning Korean. My favorite cuisine is Mediterranean food. I am a bariatric patient, I had the gastric sleeve to be exact and have lost 100 lbs. I’m the type of person who goes to the beach and can stay in the water for hours. Most importantly, I never give up. Not on myself and definitely not on other people.
Ready to start your journey with me? Let’s go!
Additional areas of focus: Parenting issues, Career difficulties, Commitment issues, Communication problems, Divorce and separation, Family problems, Life purpose, Self-love
Clinical approaches: Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing, Psychodynamic Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Internal Family Systems
GA LPC LPC013274
These quotes represent just a few of the many positive reviews that we have received for Shelina 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.
Best therapist ever
Written on Sep 12, 2024 after therapy with Shelina for 1 year and 5 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, addictions, relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, grief, intimacy-related issues, eating disorders, self esteem, career difficulties, and adhd
Shelina has such a wonderful way of making me feel heard, acknowledged and supported. I am so grateful to have her as my therapist and there’s no doubt that the sessions I have with her have helped me tremendously through all my progress and goals; her warm honesty and detail with which she listens and identifies the origin of the issue, is why I have had so many breakthroughs and positive results, and I know I always have her guidance, and expertise along the way.
Written on Mar 20, 2024 after therapy with Shelina for 11 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, addictions, relationship issues, family conflicts, intimacy-related issues, self esteem, anger management, career difficulties, bipolar disorder, coping with life changes, and adhd
Shelina is professional, caring, and offers a variety of tools for her clients.
Written on Jan 12, 2023 after therapy with Shelina for 2 weeks on issues concerning stress, anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, and anger management