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KS Portrait of Kristen Smith

Kristen Smith

Experienced counselor guiding practical change

LMHC Florida

Experience
27 years in practice
Focus areas
Addictions, Relationship, Trauma and abuse
Approaches
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Client-Centered Therapy
Languages
English
Continue with Kristen

About Kristen

Kristen Smith is a licensed mental health counselor practicing in Florida with 27 years of professional experience.

Background and approach

She has worked with people facing a wide range of concerns including addictions, relationship and intimacy difficulties, trauma and abuse, mood disorders such as depression and bipolar, anxiety and stress, as well as issues related to grief, sleep and eating, and parenting.

Her background also encompasses work with ADHD, compassion fatigue, career transitions, and a variety of attachment and family of origin challenges. Kristen emphasizes a collaborative, strength-based stance that recognizes each client as the expert on their own life.

She combines practical strategies with empathic listening to help clients identify values, build coping skills, and navigate life changes. Her practice integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy along with client-centered and dialectical approaches to tailor care to each individual’s needs.

Kristen frames the first step toward change as an act of courage and offers steady support for people pursuing greater balance, clarity, and resilience.

Therapeutic approaches and online care

Kristen uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people identify and change unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns, which can be useful for anxiety, depression, and stress-related concerns. She also draws on client-centered therapy, offering an empathic, nonjudgmental space that prioritizes the client’s perspective and strengths as the foundation for change. Where emotional regulation and distress tolerance are central, elements of Dialectical Behavior Therapy are incorporated to teach practical coping skills and balance acceptance with change.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process; Kristen will work with clients to explore goals, preferences, and what feels most useful, adjusting methods over time to fit evolving needs. This partnership helps ensure interventions match each person’s situation and values.

Online sessions are available through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, offering flexibility for varied schedules and comfort levels. These options make it easier to maintain consistent care while balancing work, family, or geographic constraints, and allow therapists and licensed professionals to adapt pacing and tools to the online setting.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does Kristen commonly address?
She works with a broad set of issues including addictions, relationship and intimacy concerns, trauma and abuse, depression, anxiety, grief, sleep and eating problems, parenting stresses, and ADHD among other areas.
What is her therapeutic style like?
Her approach is collaborative and strengths-based, blending practical skill teaching with empathic, client-centered support to help people navigate change.
How much clinical experience does she bring?
She has 27 years of professional experience working with diverse mental health and life challenges.
What are her credentials and where does she practice?
She is a licensed mental health counselor in Florida with credential FL LMHC MH7619.
Does she offer services in languages other than English or to international clients?
She provides services in English and is not currently accepting international clients.
What formats are available for sessions?
Sessions are offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to accommodate different preferences.
How are sessions billed and what does it cost?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What steps are needed to begin working together?
To start, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

AddictionsRelationship issuesTrauma and abuseIntimacy-related issuesDepression

Also works with

Stress, AnxietyLGBTFamily conflictsGriefEating disordersSleeping disordersParenting issuesAnger managementSelf esteemCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCoping with life changesCoachingCompassion fatigueADHD

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAdoption and foster careAging and geriatric issuesAttachment issuesAutism and Asperger SyndromeAvoidant personalityBody imageCaregiver issues and stressCodependencyControl issuesDependent personalityDissociationDivorce and separationEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFirst responder issuesForgivenessGuilt and shameHospice and end-of-life counselingImpulsivityIsolation / lonelinessJealousyLife purposeMidlife crisisVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMoney and financial issuesMood disordersObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPersonality disordersPhobiasPost-traumatic stressSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-harmSelf-loveSexual assault and abuseSexualitySocial anxiety and phobiaWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

Experience

27+ years

Licensed

Florida

Languages

English