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SS Portrait of Shawn Smith

Shawn Smith

CBT-informed counseling with compassionate care

LCSW Louisiana

Experience
30 years in practice
Focus areas
Family, Trauma and abuse, Self esteem
Approaches
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Client-Centered Therapy
Languages
English
Continue with Shawn

About Shawn

Shawn Smith is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with thirty years of clinical experience helping people navigate major life changes and recover from trauma. She integrates cognitive behavioral techniques with client-centered principles to help clients identify unhelpful thoughts, build practical coping skills, and strengthen self-worth.

Background and approach

Her work often emphasizes improving communication, setting boundaries, and rebuilding stability after experiences of abuse or loss. Working from Louisiana, Shawn brings a compassionate, culturally aware presence to sessions and prioritizes collaboration as clients explore their goals.

Her focus areas include family concerns, trauma and abuse, anxiety and depression, grief, parenting challenges, anger, and relationship difficulties, along with related issues such as abandonment, codependency, and forgiveness. Shawn also has experience supporting veterans and people coping with sexual assault and domestic violence.

She aims to create an affirming environment where clients can develop resilience, clarify life purpose, and practice new ways of relating to themselves and others.

Evidence-Informed Approaches for Online Healing

Shawn often draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Client-Centered Therapy in her online work. CBT focuses on identifying and changing thoughts and behaviors that contribute to distress, making it useful for anxiety, depression, and stress-related concerns. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes empathy, validation, and meeting clients where they are to promote self-exploration and personal growth.

She may also incorporate Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills when emotional regulation, interpersonal effectiveness, or distress tolerance are priorities. DBT provides practical tools for managing intense emotions and improving relationships, and these skills translate well to remote sessions.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Shawn works with each person to assess needs, preferences, and goals, and adapts techniques accordingly so the therapeutic plan fits the individual's situation and pace.

Online therapy with Shawn is available via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, offering flexibility for different schedules and comfort levels. These options can make it easier to maintain consistent work on goals from varied locations and life circumstances while allowing licensed professionals to provide ongoing guidance and skills practice.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does Shawn commonly address?
Shawn works with a wide range of issues including family problems, trauma and abuse, self-esteem, coping with life changes, stress, anxiety, relationship difficulties, grief, parenting, anger, and depression, along with related areas like abandonment and codependency.
What is Shawn's therapeutic style like?
She combines client-centered care with cognitive behavioral techniques and elements of DBT, mindfulness, and motivational interviewing to help clients identify patterns, build skills, and pursue their goals.
How much clinical experience does Shawn have?
Shawn brings 30 years of professional experience as a therapist, drawing on long-term practice to inform her approach to trauma, family dynamics, and personal growth.
Where is Shawn licensed and based?
Shawn holds an LCSW credential and is licensed in Louisiana under LA LCSW 6402.
Can sessions be conducted in languages other than English?
Sessions are offered in English; she is available to work with international clients as well.
What session formats are available with Shawn?
She offers multiple online formats including video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to accommodate different preferences and needs.
How is cost handled for therapy with Shawn?
Cost varies depending on location and therapist availability, and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What steps are involved in beginning therapy?
To get started, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Family conflictsTrauma and abuseSelf esteemCoping with life changes

Also works with

Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesGriefParenting issuesAnger managementDepression

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentCodependencyCommunication problemsDomestic violenceFamily problemsForgivenessLife purposeVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesSelf-loveSexual assault and abuseWomen's issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Mindfulness TherapyMotivational Interviewing

Experience

30+ years

Licensed

Louisiana

Languages

English