Kathy Smith, LCSW, LICSW

Kathy Smith is a licensed clinical social worker with 40 years of experience. She helps people manage stress, anxiety, grief, depression, and big life changes. Her approach is steady and respectful, aimed at helping each person take practical steps forward.

Kathy treats people with sensitivity and compassion. She assumes everyone is doing the best they can with the skills they have. That belief shapes how she listens and responds in sessions. Conversations are tailored to the needs and pace of the person in front of her.

Her work often focuses on coping skills for caregivers, issues related to aging, chronic illness or pain, and emotional themes like guilt, shame, or loneliness. She also supports people working through family of origin concerns, communication problems, and questions about life purpose and midlife transitions.

Kathy uses familiar, down-to-earth methods that help people identify unhelpful thoughts and try new behaviors. She draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy along with acceptance, mindfulness, and motivational techniques to build practical plans. Sessions are collaborative and goal oriented so progress can be measured.

She holds LCSW and LICSW credentials and practices in North Dakota. Kathy invites people to take the first step and reach out when they feel ready to start working on change.

How therapy approaches work online

CBT helps people spot and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. It offers clear steps and practical exercises for issues like anxiety, depression, and low mood. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy encourages noticing thoughts and feelings without fighting them, then choosing actions that match personal values. It can help with worry, grief, and life transitions by building willingness and purposeful action.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will listen to your goals and try methods that fit your needs and preferences. Together you can adjust the focus and tools as progress is made, mixing techniques when helpful.

Online sessions are offered as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to make therapy more flexible. Video is useful for full conversations and exercises. Phone sessions can work when bandwidth is limited or a simpler check-in is needed. Live chat and messaging allow brief check-ins, ongoing encouragement, or notes between sessions. These options help people fit therapy into busy lives and keep momentum between appointments.