Rena Smith
Compassionate, experienced LCSW guiding practical change
LCSW Louisiana
- Experience
- 23 years in practice
- Focus areas
- Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Relationship
- Approaches
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Languages
- English
About Rena
Rena Smith is a licensed clinical social worker with 23 years of experience who blends practical strategies with empathic support to address a wide range of concerns.
Background and approach
She often uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy alongside acceptance-based and client-centered approaches to help people manage stress, anxiety, addictions, relationship strains, trauma, grief, and other life transitions. Her practice emphasizes building on clients' existing strengths while introducing skills that reduce distress and improve day-to-day functioning.
Rena approaches each person as the expert on their own life, guiding clients to clarify values, set achievable goals, and practice new ways of responding to difficult thoughts and feelings.
She also works with issues such as eating and parenting challenges, anger and career concerns, bipolar disorder, compassion fatigue, and family-of-origin matters, as well as more specific focuses including codependency, obsessive tendencies, and multicultural concerns.
Rena holds an LCSW license in Louisiana (LA LCSW 5663) and frames therapy as a collaborative process aimed at fostering resilience and meaningful change.
Evidence-Informed Approaches Delivered Online
Rena frequently draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people identify and change unhelpful thinking patterns and behaviors, a practical approach that can be useful for anxiety, stress, obsessive tendencies, and mood-related concerns. She also uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, which encourages clients to clarify personal values and build psychological flexibility through mindful acceptance and committed action. Client-Centered Therapy is another element of her work, providing a supportive, nondirective foundation that prioritizes empathy and the client's own goals.Choosing an approach is part of the therapeutic collaboration. Rena works with clients to explore which methods align with their needs, goals, and preferences, adapting techniques over time rather than relying on a single fixed method. This collaborative stance helps ensure the work feels relevant and practical for each person.
Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, offering flexibility for different schedules and comfort levels. These options make it possible to engage in regular sessions, practice skills between meetings, and access care without travel, supporting continuity and convenience while working toward treatment goals.
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does Rena commonly address?
What is Rena's therapeutic style?
How long has she practiced clinically?
What are her credentials and where is she licensed?
Which languages are available for sessions?
In what formats are sessions offered?
How are costs and scheduling handled?
What are the first steps to begin working with her?
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
23+ years
Licensed
Louisiana
Languages
English