Abby Smith
Counselor, LGPC -
It can be daunting to make the decision to reach out and contact a therapist. Just by doing this, you are already taking the first step towards reaching your goals. Whether you are seeking counseling for yourself, for your child, or for your relationship, taking the initiative can be scary. I work to create a positive and supportive environment in order to alleviate some of those fears. In addition to individual and couple work, I work with children, teens, and their families to develop effective communication while also focusing on your child’s growth, identity development, thoughts, and emotions.
My background is in community mental health, meaning that I have experience working with all kinds of people dealing with a multitude of different concerns. I am trauma-informed, LGBTQIA+ allied, sex worker allied, and multi-culturally focused. I believe that empathy and building the therapeutic relationship is the biggest factor in the work we can do together. While I bring a person-centered approach and mindfulness into almost all of my sessions, I don’t believe therapy is one-size-fits-all. This means that I will always take into account individual situations and preferences to make sure our time together is focused on your or your child’s unique needs and goals.
I work with older children (8+), preteens and teens, young adults, adults, and couples struggling with depression, anxiety, life transitions, marginalization, gender dysphoria, and identity development. I am especially passionate about working with individuals in the LGBTQIA+ community, teens, college students, and those in times of life transition. I believe that therapy should not be a space where you have to worry about being judged.
As a counselor, I believe it is my role to give you unconditional positive regard. This doesn’t mean that I will never challenge you or give you a dose of reality, but instead that I will never judge you for simply being who you are. Going to therapy and opening up to a stranger can be scary, but together we can work towards getting you to where you want to be.
Skills and Expertise
Adjusting to Change / Life Transitions
Adjustment to College
Adult
Anxiety
Child or Adolescent
Caregiver Issues or Stress
college age
Coping Mechanisms
Depression
Gay Issues
Identity Issues
LGBTQ
Life Purpose
Mindfulness based therapy
Navigating Identity in Relationships
Teens
Transgender Issues
Women's issue
Treatment Orientation
Acceptance Commitment Therapy
Art Therapy
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
DBT Informed Therapy
Eclectic
Existential
Harm Reduction
holistic health
Humanistic
Mindfulness
Narrative
Person Centered Therapy
Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT)
Self-Compassion
Therapy unique to each client
Modality