Kelly Smith is a licensed clinical social worker with thirty years of experience providing psychotherapy. Kelly focuses on helping people who are struggling with stress, anxiety, low self esteem, relationship concerns, grief, and life transitions. The tone in sessions is warm and respectful, with an emphasis on listening and validation.
Kelly uses straightforward, practical conversation to help people understand what gets in the way of feeling better. Sessions often include ways to notice unhelpful thinking, learn new coping skills, and build clearer communication in relationships. Mindfulness techniques and emotion regulation skills are also part of the process when they fit a person's goals.
Kelly combines client-centered care with cognitive-behavioral and dialectical behavior approaches, plus elements of psychodynamic thinking. That mix is adapted to each person's needs rather than applied the same way to everyone. Kelly aims to make sessions interactive and focused on real-life change.
People come for help with a wide range of concerns, including trauma, addiction, parenting strains, intimacy issues, ADHD, and challenges related to sexual and gender identity. The work is practical and collaborative, with attention to both immediate coping and longer-term patterns.
To begin, Kelly asks questions about what matters most to each person and then shapes a plan that fits their goals. The emphasis is on building skills, increasing self-understanding, and supporting steady progress over time.
How Kelly's approaches translate to online therapy
Kelly often draws from client-centered therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and dialectical behavior therapy when working with people online. Client-centered therapy emphasizes listening, respect, and meeting the person where they are, which helps create a collaborative conversation about priorities. Cognitive behavioral therapy looks at thoughts and behaviors together and introduces practical exercises to change unhelpful patterns. Dialectical behavior therapy focuses on emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness skills that can be practiced between sessions.
Finding the right approach is a shared process. Kelly will work together with each person to identify which mix of methods fits their goals and day-to-day needs, and will adjust the plan over time based on what is helping.
Session formats are not specified in the biography, so confirm the available options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule, allow for shorter check-ins when needed, and let people use different communication styles such as talking or practicing skills in the moment. Licensed professionals can guide practice of new skills and help translate insights into concrete steps that fit everyday life.
AbandonmentAdoption and foster careAging and geriatric issuesAntisocial personalityAttachment issuesAvoidant personalityBDSM, kink, and alternative sex cultureBlended family issuesBody imageCo-morbidityCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesDependent personalityDissociationDivorce and separationDomestic violenceDrug and alcohol addictionEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFertility issuesForgivenessGender dysphoriaGuilt and shameImpulsivityInfidelityIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeMidlife crisisVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMood disordersObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPanic disorder and panic attacksPersonality disordersPhobiasPolyamory / non-monogamous relationshipsPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressPregnancy and childbirthPrejudice and discriminationSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-harmSelf-loveSex addictionSexual assault and abuseSexualitySocial anxiety and phobiaWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues
Kelly works with issues such as stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, self esteem, relationship and intimacy concerns, addictions, grief, ADHD, and challenges related to LGBT identity.
What is Kelly's therapy style like?
Sessions are warm, interactive, and focused on listening and validation. Conversations typically include practical skill building alongside exploration of patterns that affect daily life.
How much clinical experience does Kelly have?
Kelly has thirty years of experience working as a psychotherapist and clinical supervisor in a range of settings and clinical situations.
What are Kelly's credentials and where are they based?
Kelly holds the credential LCSW and is licensed in New York and Virginia, practicing from Virginia.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Are international clients accepted?
International clients are not currently accepted.
How does billing and cost work?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability, and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with Kelly?
To get started, select the continue button on this profile, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.
