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.
Specialties
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
- Trauma and abuse
- Depression
Addictions , LGBT , Grief , Sleeping disorders , Parenting issues , Anger management , Self esteem , Career difficulties , Bipolar disorder , Coping with life changes , Compassion fatigue , ADHD , Abandonment , Aging and Geriatric Issues , Read more...
Clinical approaches:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy
Services Offered
Messaging
Live Chat
Phone
Video
Languages
English
Spanish
Licensing
LPC #6401010540 (Expires: 2024-05-31)
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.
Cathy is an excellent therapist! She is very understanding and resourceful. She gives thoughtful insight, and is very willing to help you establish goals to better yourself. She is very considerate of your needs and priorities!
She is great. Good Spanish and gives great advices
My therapist is awsome
She's a nice person to talk to. We're in completely opposite timezones but her expertise and insight made making the odd hours sessions worthwhile. The dramatic age difference and relatively similar background experiences made it easy for me to let my guard down and really get to the bottom of any triggering issues. A slight complaint might be the internet connection's not that stable from her current location. However, her regular check-ins outside dedicated sessions made up for it.
Cathy has been a wonderful therapist that helped me through a tough time. When I look back on the person I was when I started speaking to Cathy versus the person I am now, I am so grateful for all the confidence boosting that Cathy gave.
Cathy is kind, helpful and funny. I can't recommend her enough.
Very kind and patient. Taught a lot of different practices which have changed my life and how I view it. A wonderful therapist
Cathy is the best therapist I have EVER worked with. I’ve had different therapists over the years. Only 4 sessions in and I’ve already touched on deep things. It’s fantastic.
Cathy is an experienced and supportive therapist. Greatly appreciate her approach, attention and flexibility.
Cathy listens patiently and has a very good understanding of what I tell her
She's very nice and easy to talk to and has good advice
She's the best therapist you can have. You'll feel so safe and confident when you talk to her. She has so much experience so she knows exactly what she has to say. Talking to her is always healing. Thanks Cathy
Cathy is fantastic! She listens to me and really helps me feel heard. She connects with me and has helped improve my sense of self worth a lot.
Cathy has been fantastic so far on my counselling journey. She listens attentively, stops me to ask productive questions and encourage conversation, and explains tools and tricks to cope with struggles. She responds quickly, compassionately, and I never feel like a clock is ticking or I'm being timed. I enjoy our sessions and look forward to continuing.
Cathy is very sweet and patient with listening and guiding the topic of our conversations during our sessions. I also appreciate her for messaging me throughout the week between our appointments to check in on me.
I’ve had really good interaction with Cathy. She’s patiently listened to me & what my issues are, and how I can change me. Very positive, fun, it’s like talking to a friend who can guide you . Not just agree.
Cathy is amazing. Kind and understanding. I feel like she knows exactly what I’m talking about and exactly what I need to become a better and healthier me.
With only two sessions with Cathy, my self-confidence returned, I am happy to have had someone to talk with, about my problems and insecurities. From now on, the decisions I make will be based on her recommendations.
Thank you
Cathy is a great and attentive counselor, she has a variety of experience that is helpful in many ways. I always leave our sessions feeling better and more hopeful than before.
Cathy has been a great counselor, she’s kind, thoughtful and very easy to talk to. I’ve looked forward to talking to her and she makes me feel very comfortable and I feel like I can talk to her about anything. She’s got great insight and recommendations too!
I've worked with many therapists over the years and always left my sessions feeling worse or depleted. I used to dread my therapy sessions. Working with Cathy has been the exact opposite. She's so engaged the entire time we chat and makes me feel heard and cared for. I love that she has so much life experience and a wise perspective because then things feel less heavy. I would recommend Cathy to anyone who is stuck in their own head.
I feel grateful to have such an experienced therapist, it feels very easy to talk with her and she is really a great listener. It's also comforting just knowing she is a message away. I've only recently started meeting with her and I already feel like I am growing and making progress.
Cathy is very kind, intelligent and understanding. She has such a warm and welcoming personality, making it easy to open up and share with her. She has time and again recommended helpful ways for me to handle my personal hurdles and seems to really care about my well being and happiness.
She’s very experienced. We had one session only so far but I will get a good help for better life.