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KS Portrait of Karen Smith

Karen Smith

Compassionate, practical counseling for life's challenges

LPC South Carolina

Experience
10 years in practice
Focus areas
Relationship, Trauma and abuse, Self esteem
Approaches
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Languages
English
Continue with Karen

About Karen

Karen Smith is a licensed professional counselor (LPC) in South Carolina who draws on a decade of clinical experience to help people navigate relationship struggles, trauma, and mood concerns. She integrates practical, evidence-informed strategies to support clients wrestling with depression, addictions, grief, anger, and self-esteem challenges.

Background and approach

Her work also addresses life transitions such as divorce and separation while exploring themes like forgiveness, life purpose, and self-love. Her approach blends active, collaborative methods with empathic, client-centered care.

She emphasizes respect, sensitivity, and compassion while supporting each person to identify goals and develop a workable plan. Clients can expect a therapist who values problem-solving and helps them build practical skills for managing difficult thoughts and emotions.

Beginning therapy is recognized as an important step, and she aims to make that process approachable and intentional for each individual.

How therapy approaches translate to online care

Karen integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) into her online practice. CBT focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors, which can be useful for depression, anxiety, and anger management. ACT emphasizes values-based action and accepting difficult internal experiences while pursuing meaningful goals, often helping with grief, self-esteem, and motivation.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. She works with each person to explore what methods align with their needs, preferences, and goals, and adapts techniques over time so therapy stays relevant and practical for the individual.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to provide flexibility for varied schedules and circumstances. These options make it easier to maintain continuity of care, access sessions from different locations, and pick the communication style that feels most comfortable, while still using structured, goal-oriented therapeutic work.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of concerns does Karen address?
She works with relationship problems, trauma and abuse, self esteem, depression, addictions, grief, and anger, and also focuses on issues like divorce and separation, forgiveness, life purpose, and self-love.
What therapeutic approaches shape sessions?
Her practice draws from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Client-Centered Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Narrative Therapy to tailor sessions to client needs.
How long has she been practicing?
She brings ten years of professional experience to her work with clients, applying that background across a range of emotional and relational concerns.
Where is she licensed and practicing?
She holds the LPC credential with license number SC LPC 8337 and is licensed in South Carolina.
Can nonlocal or international clients work with her?
Yes, she accepts international clients and provides services to people outside her immediate region.
What session formats are offered?
Sessions are available via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to accommodate different preferences and schedules.
How are fees and subscriptions handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What are the first steps to begin therapy?
To start, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule appointments according to therapist availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Relationship issuesTrauma and abuseSelf esteemDepression

Also works with

AddictionsGriefAnger management

Additional focus areas

Divorce and separationForgivenessLife purposeSelf-love

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Motivational InterviewingNarrative Therapy

Experience

10+ years

Licensed

South Carolina

Languages

English