Kennethya Smith-Johnson, LCSW, LISW

Kennethya Smith-Johnson is a licensed social worker who helps people manage stress, anxiety, grief, low self-esteem, and depression. She speaks plainly and makes space for honest conversation. She encourages clients who are nervous about starting therapy and respects the courage it takes to reach out.

She uses practical strategies from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, along with a client-centered approach that follows each person’s pace. Sessions focus on identifying unhelpful thoughts, trying small behavior changes, and building skills that fit everyday life. The work is collaborative and goal-oriented, but adaptable to what the client needs in the moment.

Her background includes three years of professional experience and licensure as an LCSW in Arkansas and an LISW in Iowa. That experience includes helping people with relationship strain, anger, career concerns, compassion fatigue, and ADHD. She has also supported people facing adoption and foster care issues, aging concerns, chronic illness, cancer, and caregiver stress.

Clients can expect straightforward talk and practical homework between sessions when useful. The therapist aims to reduce overwhelm by breaking problems into manageable steps. Sessions cover coping with life changes, panic and social anxiety, postpartum depression, isolation, and communication problems.

Kennethya offers sessions by video, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to fit different schedules. She explains the matching and scheduling process clearly so people can get started without extra hassle.

How therapeutic approaches translate to online care

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening closely and following the client's lead. The therapist creates space for people to say what matters most, then shapes sessions around those concerns and goals.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at how thoughts and behaviors interact. Sessions often include identifying unhelpful thinking patterns, trying small behavior changes, and practicing skills between appointments to reduce anxiety, depression, and stress.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will discuss goals, try methods that fit the client's needs, and adjust the plan together. This collaborative process helps find what feels useful rather than assuming one method will suit everyone.

Online formats make it easier to fit therapy into busy lives. Video calls let people use visual cues similar to in-person sessions. Phone sessions can be a simpler option when bandwidth is limited or when someone prefers not to be on camera. Live chat and text-based messaging provide brief check-ins and written reflections that can be helpful between sessions. These options support flexibility and ongoing progress while working through stress, anxiety, grief, and everyday challenges.