Dr. Rita Smith, MD, LCPC, LPC

Dr. Rita Smith uses straightforward, practical therapy to help people manage stress and relationship struggles. She brings 25 years of experience and a calm, direct approach to sessions. Dr. Smith holds an MD and is licensed as a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and a Licensed Professional Counselor. She works from Georgia and conducts sessions in English.

Her work focuses on everyday problems that pile up - anxiety, depression, work stress, parenting strain, and relationship or intimacy challenges. She also supports people dealing with grief, trauma and abuse, identity and LGBT concerns, and questions about life purpose. Many clients come for help with communication problems, commitment and infidelity, or the strain of divorce and separation.

In sessions she leans on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and client-centered methods. That means she helps people notice unhelpful thoughts, try small behavior changes, and use their own strengths to move forward. She also uses solution-focused techniques to set clear, practical goals and measure progress.

Her style is collaborative and goal-oriented. She will work with each person to set manageable steps and adjust approaches as needed. Over a long career in agencies, universities, private practice, and military settings, she has developed tools for problem solving and coping.

People who want clear steps, practical skills, and a warm listening presence often find this approach useful. Dr. Smith combines evidence-based techniques with everyday language to make progress feel achievable.

Practical therapy methods you can use online

Dr. Smith commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and client-centered approaches in online sessions. CBT focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and trying small behavior changes to reduce anxiety, manage mood, and tackle workplace or relationship problems. Client-centered work means the therapist listens closely, reflects what she hears, and helps people find their own solutions and strengths.

She also uses solution-focused techniques to set short-term, measurable goals and track progress during remote work. Together the approaches help people move from feeling stuck to taking specific steps toward what matters to them. Finding the best combination is part of the process, and she will collaborate with each person to choose approaches that match their needs, goals, and preferences.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, which make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life. Video lets people use visual cues and a fuller conversation. Phone sessions can be simpler when bandwidth is limited or when a check-in fits into a work break. Live chat and text messaging offer shorter, timely check-ins and ongoing support between longer sessions. These options provide flexibility and accessibility while keeping the focus on practical change and steady progress.