Katie Smith, LCMHC

Katie Smith is a licensed mental health counselor who offers compassionate, practical support for people navigating stress, anxiety, trauma, relationship struggles, and life transitions. She is currently living overseas and is offering messaging-only services to new clients because of the time difference; when schedules allow she may work toward phone or video sessions in the future.

Katie holds the LCMHC credential - Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor - which denotes professional training and licensure to provide counseling services in North Carolina. She has worked with adults, teens, and families in both individual and group settings and has experience supporting survivors of trauma, domestic violence, and sexual assault, as well as military spouses and people managing mood disorders, anxiety, depression, and borderline personality disorder. Her clinical work has included intensive Dialectical Behavior Therapy training and extensive work with clients who experience chronic suicidal thoughts and turbulent interpersonal relationships.

Her counseling style blends person-centered respect for each individual with evidence-informed cognitive behavioral techniques. She emphasizes collaboration, inviting clients to identify goals and build skills that fit their lives. Katie aims to empower people to understand and change patterns of thought and behavior while offering steady, nonjudgmental support. She focuses on developing practical strategies for coping, strengthening relationships, and moving toward the life clients want. Katie often draws on mindfulness principles when appropriate, reflecting the idea that acceptance and present-moment awareness can be part of healing.

Therapeutic Approaches and Remote Care

Katie commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy in her work. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps people identify and shift unhelpful thought and behavior patterns; it is often used for anxiety, depression, and stress-related concerns. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) focuses on building skills in emotion regulation, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, and mindfulness - it is especially helpful for people experiencing intense emotions, unstable relationships, or chronic self-harm urges.

Choosing the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Katie collaborates with each person to assess needs, preferences, and goals, and she tailors techniques so they fit the client’s life. This collaborative approach helps ensure the methods used are practical and meaningful for the individual.

Online therapy offers flexibility in how sessions happen, including video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. These options make it easier to fit counseling into busy schedules, accommodate geographic constraints, and continue care when in-person visits are not possible. Katie structures remote work to maintain a consistent, supportive therapeutic relationship while focusing on clear strategies and skill building that translate into daily life.