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JS Portrait of Jessica Smeal

Jessica Smeal

Compassionate skills-based therapy for real-life change

LMHP Nebraska

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

About Jessica

Jessica Smeal is an LMHP based in Nebraska who emphasizes practical, skills-focused care grounded in cognitive-behavioral principles. She draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy alongside client-centered and dialectical behavior techniques to help people identify unhelpful patterns, build coping skills, and make measurable changes in daily life.

Background and approach

Her approach balances structured interventions with attention to each person’s values and goals. With 16 years of clinical experience across multiple levels of care, she has worked in settings ranging from corrections to long-term co-occurring treatment to outpatient services.

Jessica has supported adults facing a wide range of concerns including mood and anxiety disorders, substance use and addictions, trauma and abuse, bipolar disorder, relationship and family issues, grief, self-esteem struggles, ADHD, and crises such as self-harm and post-traumatic stress. She also addresses related problems like codependency, communication difficulties, and impulsivity.

Jessica aims to tailor treatment to individual needs, combining evidence-informed methods such as CBT and DBT with motivational and solution-focused strategies when appropriate. She frames therapy as a collaborative process in which the person seeking help guides the goals while she provides structure, skills, and clinical perspective to support progress.

Evidence-informed approaches for online care

Jessica commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help clients recognize and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors; this approach is practical for anxiety, mood concerns, panic, and many stress-related problems. She also draws on Client-Centered Therapy, which emphasizes empathic listening and supporting each person’s own goals to foster self-directed growth and healing. In addition, Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills are used to teach emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness when impulsivity, intense emotions, or self-harm concerns are present.

Finding the right combination of methods is treated as a collaborative process. The therapist works with each person to identify priorities, try approaches that match their needs, and adjust the plan over time so treatment remains relevant and manageable. This shared decision-making helps tailor interventions to what the client values and hopes to accomplish.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, making it easier to fit sessions into busy schedules and to access support from home. These options allow for skill practice between sessions, timely check-ins, and varied formats to suit different communication styles while maintaining continuity of care with licensed professionals.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does Jessica commonly address?
She works with a broad range of issues including stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, bipolar disorder, depression, relationship and family difficulties, grief, self-esteem, career transitions, ADHD, and related concerns.
What is her therapeutic style like?
Her style blends practical, skills-based methods with client-centered attention to values and goals, using approaches such as CBT, DBT, motivational interviewing, and solution-focused techniques.
How much clinical experience does she have?
Jessica brings 16 years of experience working across settings that include corrections, long-term co-occurring treatment, and outpatient care.
What credentials and location does she hold?
She is an LMHP licensed in Nebraska with licence number NE LMHP 4509 and provides services from Nebraska.
Which languages does she use and are international clients accepted?
Services are offered in English, and she is not currently accepting international clients.
In what formats does she offer sessions?
She provides video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to accommodate different communication preferences.
How much do sessions cost?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What are the first steps to begin working with her?
Begin by selecting the Start Therapy button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and then scheduling according to her availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyAddictionsTrauma and abuseBipolar disorderDepression

Also works with

Relationship issuesFamily conflictsGriefSelf esteemCareer difficultiesCoping with life changesADHD

Additional focus areas

CodependencyCommunication problemsDrug and alcohol addictionGuilt and shameImpulsivityMood disordersPanic disorder and panic attacksPersonality disordersPost-traumatic stressSelf-harmSexual assault and abuse

Therapeutic approaches

Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Motivational InterviewingSolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused Therapy

Experience

16+ years

Licensed

Nebraska

Languages

English