Kathy Smith, LCSW, LICSW

Kathy Smith is a licensed clinical social worker with forty years of experience helping people navigate stress, anxiety, grief, depression, and major life transitions including midlife crisis. She works with respect and calm, focusing on practical steps people can use right away. Kathy writes treatment plans to fit each person's situation and values. She encourages people to take the first step and recognizes that asking for help takes courage.

Her sessions center on clear, compassionate conversation. She listens for what matters most and helps people name priorities. Kathy blends approaches like Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and client-centered methods to address mood and coping. She also uses mindfulness and motivational interviewing techniques when they match a person's goals.

Kathy often helps people facing caregiver strain, chronic illness or pain, and aging or geriatric issues. She also works with concerns such as codependency, family of origin problems, loneliness, guilt, and life purpose questions. Sessions move at a practical pace and focus on skills people can use between meetings.

Her background includes licensure in North Dakota and Minnesota as LCSW and LICSW. Over four decades she has built experience in community and clinical settings, keeping attention on what helps people in daily life. If you want straightforward support for a midlife shift or persistent low mood, she offers an experienced, steady presence.

Kathy adapts conversations and tools to each person's needs. She aims to make therapy understandable and doable, with goals set together and progress checked regularly.

How Kathy’s approaches fit with online work

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on clarifying values and taking action that matches those values while accepting uncomfortable thoughts and feelings. It can help people who feel stuck during life transitions or who struggle with persistent worry or low mood. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at the connections between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and teaches practical strategies to change unhelpful patterns. It is useful for anxiety, depression, and coping skills. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes a warm, nonjudgmental relationship where the therapist follows the person’s lead and supports their own problem-solving and growth.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. Kathy will talk with each person about goals, preferences, and what has or hasn’t helped before. She will then suggest methods to try and adjust them over time based on what the person finds useful, making the process collaborative rather than predetermined.

If you plan to use online therapy, confirm the session formats Kathy currently offers before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit appointments into a busy week, reduce travel time, and allow for shorter check-ins when needed. It also makes it possible to continue care across life transitions. Talk with Kathy when you schedule so arrangements match your needs and daily routine.