Kathy Smith , LCSW, LICSW

Kathy Smith, LCSW, LICSW, brings four decades of experience as a licensed clinical social worker in Minnesota and North Dakota. Her practice focuses on helping people navigate stress, anxiety, grief and loss, depression, and the many challenges that come with life transitions. As a clinician with long experience, she approaches each person with respect, sensitivity, and compassion and believes that most people are doing the best they can with the skills available to them.

Kathy holds clinical social work credentials - LCSW and LICSW - which indicate advanced training and experience in assessment and therapeutic intervention. She works from the understanding that change is possible and that every client deserves support in making meaningful shifts. Her work emphasizes listening carefully and tailoring conversation and treatment plans to match each person’s unique needs and circumstances.

Taking the first step toward therapy often requires courage, and Kathy acknowledges that decision as an important act. She aims to create a collaborative space where clients can explore coping strategies, address compassion fatigue or caregiver stress, and pursue clearer direction around issues such as family relationships, chronic illness, aging concerns, and life purpose.

Evidence-Informed Approaches for Online Care

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice difficult thoughts and feelings without getting overwhelmed by them, and encourages action that aligns with personal values - it is often useful for anxiety, stress, and problems tied to life transitions. Client-Centered Therapy focuses on empathetic listening and creating a nonjudgmental space where clients lead the conversation; this approach supports people coping with grief, isolation, and relationship issues. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) examines the links between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and offers practical strategies to shift unhelpful patterns, which can be effective for depression, worry, and mood-related concerns.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Kathy works collaboratively with each person to identify which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences, and she adjusts the plan as progress and feedback guide the work. This collaborative stance helps tailor treatment to what matters most to the client.

Online therapy offers flexibility and access to licensed professionals through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. These options make it easier to fit sessions into busy schedules, maintain continuity during life changes, and connect with a therapist from home or another convenient location.