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SS Portrait of Shelley Smith

Shelley Smith

Compassionate, practical therapy for life’s challenges

LPC Georgia

Experience
13 years in practice
Focus areas
Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Grief
Approaches
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Client-Centered Therapy
Languages
English
Continue with Shelley

About Shelley

Shelley Smith is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) practicing in Georgia with 13 years of clinical experience. She focuses on helping people navigate stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, depression, and addictions, drawing on a strengths-based perspective that honors each person's knowledge of their own life.

Background and approach

Shelley emphasizes collaboration and supports clients in building coping skills and resilience while addressing intimacy, relationship concerns, parenting challenges, and self-esteem difficulties. Her work integrates evidence-informed methods such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Client-Centered Therapy, Narrative Therapy, and Psychodynamic approaches.

Shelley attends to a wide range of issues including ADHD, compassion fatigue, family-of-origin and blended family dynamics, body image, and substance-related struggles. She encourages clients to take the first step toward change and meets them where they are, using practical strategies combined with explorations of meaning and patterns that sustain healthier choices.

How therapeutic approaches translate to online care



Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns, often using concrete exercises and homework to build practical coping skills for anxiety, depression, and stress. Client-Centered Therapy centers on the client's experience, offering empathic listening and support so individuals can explore their values and make choices that align with their goals. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) combines skills training in emotion regulation, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, and mindfulness to help people manage intense emotions and improve relationships.

Choosing the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and Shelley collaborates with clients to determine which methods best match their needs, goals, and preferences. She tailors interventions over time, combining skill-building and exploratory work as appropriate so clients feel involved in treatment planning.

Online therapy makes these approaches accessible through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, offering flexibility for different schedules and comfort levels. These formats allow clients to practice skills between sessions, maintain continuity of care when life is busy, and access licensed professionals without geographic constraints within the therapist's service area.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of concerns can be addressed in sessions?
Shelley works with a broad set of concerns including stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, depression, addictions, relationship and intimacy-related issues, parenting, self-esteem, ADHD, and compassion fatigue among others.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her style is collaborative and strengths-based, blending practical skills training with reflective exploration to help clients develop coping strategies and clearer self-understanding.
What is her clinical background and experience?
She has 13 years of professional experience supporting clients across a variety of mental health and life challenges, including work with addiction, trauma recovery, and family-related concerns.
What credentials and location apply to this therapist?
She is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) licensed in Georgia with the credential listing GA LPC LPC009464.
Does she offer services in other languages or to international clients?
Sessions are provided in English, and she is not currently accepting international clients.
What formats are available for sessions?
Clients can connect through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging depending on their preferences and scheduling.
How are sessions priced and paid for?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that may be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with this therapist?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule according to the therapist's availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyTrauma and abuseGriefDepression

Also works with

AddictionsLGBTRelationship issuesFamily conflictsIntimacy-related issuesParenting issuesAnger managementSelf esteemCoping with life changesCompassion fatigueADHD

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAdoption and foster careAging and geriatric issuesAttachment issuesBlended family issuesBody imageCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesDrug and alcohol addictionEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFirst responder issuesForgivenessGuilt and shameHospice and end-of-life counselingImpulsivityIsolation / lonelinessMidlife crisisVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMood disordersMulticultural concernsPanic disorder and panic attacksPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressPregnancy and childbirthSelf-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)Narrative TherapyPsychodynamic TherapySolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused Therapy

Experience

13+ years

Licensed

Georgia

Languages

English