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CS Portrait of Cortney (Bota) Smith

Cortney (Bota) Smith

Compassionate, goal-focused mental health support

LMHC New York

Experience
11 years in practice
Focus areas
Stress, Anxiety, Anger, Bipolar
Approaches
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Client-Centered Therapy
Languages
English

About Cortney

Cortney (Bota) Smith is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) who draws on more than a decade of clinical experience to support adults facing a range of life challenges.

Background and approach

She emphasizes a person-centered stance, creating a respectful, nonjudgmental environment and collaborating with clients to identify goals and practical steps forward. Cortney combines solution-focused strategies with cognitive behavioral techniques to help people address symptoms such as anxiety, depression, bipolar mood concerns, anger, addictions, trauma, grief, intimacy-related difficulties, sleep problems, parenting stress, and career or self-esteem challenges.

Her background includes work in community clinics and substantial face-to-face practice with adult clients, supplemented by extensive teletherapy experience over the past several years. Cortney holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling, and completed 1,000 clinical internship hours across varied placements.

She is licensed in New York (NY LMHC 007249) and offers therapy by video, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging. Availability tends to be Monday 9am-2pm and Wednesday 9am-3pm Eastern Time, with occasional evening appointments when possible.

Online approaches that prioritize practical change

Client-centered therapy invites the therapist to meet clients where they are, emphasizing empathy and collaborative goal-setting to help people explore what matters most to them; this approach supports work on issues like grief, relationship concerns, self-esteem, and the stress of life transitions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful thought and behavior patterns and testing new strategies in daily life, making it a practical option for anxiety, depression, sleep problems, and mood-related symptoms. Motivational Interviewing complements these approaches by enhancing motivation and resolving ambivalence, which can be particularly helpful when addressing addictions or making difficult behavioral changes.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will explore a client's needs, goals, and preferences and then suggest strategies or combinations of methods that fit those priorities. That collaborative planning helps tailor sessions so they remain focused and relevant to the person's real-life concerns.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, allowing people to access licensed professionals from different settings and routines. These formats make it easier to fit regular sessions into busy lives, maintain continuity during transitions, and pick the communication style that feels most comfortable for each client.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does Cortney commonly address?
She works with a broad range of issues including stress, anxiety, depression, bipolar challenges, anger, addictions, trauma and abuse, grief, relationship and intimacy issues, sleep difficulties, parenting stress, self-esteem, career concerns, and coping with life changes.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her style is person-centered and collaborative, using solution-focused methods alongside cognitive behavioral techniques to set goals and develop practical strategies tailored to each client.
What is Cortney's clinical background?
She has 11 years of experience working primarily in community clinics and face-to-face settings, with extensive teletherapy work over the past several years.
What credentials and location apply to this therapist?
Cortney is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) licensed in New York, listed as NY LMHC 007249.
Does she provide services in other languages or to international clients?
Sessions are offered in English and she is not currently accepting international clients.
Which session formats are available for working together?
Clients can meet with her via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging depending on preference and scheduling.
How does cost and scheduling work for sessions?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability, and sessions are arranged through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What are the steps to begin therapy with her?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to her availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyAnger managementBipolar disorderDepression

Also works with

AddictionsRelationship issuesFamily conflictsTrauma and abuseGriefIntimacy-related issuesSleeping disordersParenting issuesSelf esteemCareer difficultiesCoping with life changes

Therapeutic approaches

Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Motivational InterviewingSolution-Focused Therapy

Experience

11+ years

Licensed

New York

Languages

English