Phyllis Smith, LMFT

Phyllis Smith is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) who brings five years of clinical experience to her work. She focuses on practical strategies to reduce anxiety, manage stress, and improve close relationships. Her style is collaborative and strengths-based, with a calm, direct manner that helps people set clear goals and take small steps toward them.

Phyllis uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) alongside client-centered and existential approaches to address worries, depression, grief, and relationship strain. She helps clients notice unhelpful thoughts, test new behaviors, and build routines that feel manageable. Sessions often include skill practice and check-ins to track what changes are working.

She also draws on Mindfulness Therapy and the Gottman Method when relationship habits and communication need attention. That can mean learning to slow down during arguments, practicing simple listening exercises, or increasing awareness of emotional patterns. For parenting and family concerns she blends systemic ideas with practical tools for clearer boundaries and better day-to-day functioning.

Phyllis works with people facing addiction, trauma and abuse, ADHD, bipolar challenges, and identity-related stressors such as LGBT concerns. She pays attention to life transitions, loss, and issues tied to family of origin or blended households. Her aim is to help clients feel more capable of handling difficult moments.

Sessions are offered in English and provided from North Carolina. Phyllis uses a collaborative process to set goals and adjusts methods to each person’s needs.

How her approaches fit into online therapy

Phyllis often uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing new behaviors to reduce anxiety and depression. CBT is practical and works well when clients want clear steps and homework-like practice between sessions.

She also brings client-centered methods that prioritize listening and understanding the person’s goals. This approach helps people feel heard while they choose which changes matter most to them. Existential ideas may be added to help with big questions about meaning, loss, or life transitions when those topics come up.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Phyllis collaborates with each person to decide which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences. She adapts techniques over time based on what proves most helpful in sessions.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video sessions are useful for face-to-face conversation and skill practice. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited or for a shorter check-in. Live chat or text messaging can fit into busy days and allow brief notes, progress updates, or quick coping strategies between longer appointments.