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LS Portrait of Lura Smedstad

Lura Smedstad

Calm, practical guidance for emotional healing

LPC Minnesota

Experience
20 years in practice
Focus areas
Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Family
Approaches
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)
Languages
English
Continue with Lura

About Lura

Lura Smedstad brings two decades of counseling experience to people seeking relief from anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, and life transitions. She emphasizes helping clients identify workable goals, strengthen relationships, and reconnect with an inner sense of wisdom that guides decision making.

Background and approach

Her direct yet compassionate manner aims to balance practical skills with personal meaning. Her background blends clinical training in mental health counseling with art therapy and a longstanding interest in spiritual growth.

Lura holds a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a concentration in Art Therapy and maintains licensure as an LPC in Minnesota (MN LPC 01916).

Over the years she has supported adults and teens through individual and telehealth work, incorporating therapeutic art, mindfulness practices, somatic awareness, emotionally focused interventions, and cognitive behavioral techniques to tailor care to each person’s needs.

Approaches that translate well to online therapy



Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and patterns and developing practical skills to shift reactions and behaviors. It is often used for anxiety, depression, stress, and coping with life changes. Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) centers on understanding emotional responses in relationships and building stronger emotional connections; it can help people navigate intimacy-related issues, grief, and relational distress.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will work with clients to explore which methods resonate with their goals and preferences, combining CBT, EFT, mindfulness, or somatic techniques as appropriate to meet changing needs over time.

Online sessions via video, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging offer flexibility for fitting therapy into busy schedules and for continuing care from home. These formats make it easier to maintain consistency, try different communication styles, and access therapy despite geographic or time constraints, while allowing licensed professionals to adapt tools and exercises to the virtual setting.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does she commonly address?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, trauma and abuse, relationship and intimacy issues, parenting and caregiver stress, addictions, career challenges, anger, and related life changes.
What therapeutic style can I expect?
Her approach blends cognitive behavioral techniques with emotionally-focused, mindfulness, and somatic elements to create practical, individualized strategies for coping and growth.
How much experience does the therapist have?
She brings 20 years of professional experience in counseling and therapy, including work in clinical and ministry settings and several years providing telehealth services.
What credentials and location are listed?
She is a Licensed Professional Counselor with Minnesota license MN LPC 01916 and practices from Minnesota.
Are sessions offered in other languages or internationally?
Sessions are provided in English and she is not accepting international clients at this time.
Which session formats are available?
Clients can work together via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging depending on preference and scheduling.
How is the cost of therapy determined?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; services are provided through a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What steps begin the process of working together?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, completing a brief matching questionnaire, and then scheduling sessions according to the therapist's availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesFamily conflictsGriefSelf esteem

Also works with

AddictionsTrauma and abuseIntimacy-related issuesParenting issuesAnger managementCareer difficultiesDepressionCoping with life changesCompassion fatigue

Additional focus areas

Aging and geriatric issuesCaregiver issues and stressFamily of origin issuesFirst responder issuesForgivenessLife purposePostpartum depression

Therapeutic approaches

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)Mindfulness TherapySomatic Therapy

Experience

20+ years

Licensed

Minnesota

Languages

English