Cathy Smith, LPC

Cathy Smith is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) based in Michigan who centers conversation and practical tools in her work. She focuses on helping people manage anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship struggles, addiction, and life transitions. Cathy uses clear, down-to-earth language and moves at a pace that fits each person she meets.

Cathy's path to counseling began with degrees in sociology and Spanish and early work in residential care for youth with emotional needs. She then taught in special education settings and later completed a master's degree in counseling psychology. That mix of school, classroom experience, and clinical training shapes how she listens and responds.

In sessions she draws from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, client-centered methods, mindfulness, psychodynamic ideas, and solution-focused work. Cathy applies these approaches to real problems like sleep and eating difficulties, parenting stress, grief, and compassion fatigue. She aims to use the strategies that match a person's needs rather than forcing one way of working.

Cathy often frames work around strengths already present in a person's life. She helps people spot what is working and build small, achievable changes from there. The pace and focus change depending on goals and what someone brings to a session.

She meets with people in English and Spanish and is experienced working with a wide range of concerns including ADHD, bipolar conditions, intimacy issues, codependency, and first responder stress. Cathy brings 18 years of professional experience to her practice and aims to make therapy understandable and useful.

How therapeutic approaches work online

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy helps people identify thoughts and behaviors that keep problems going and then practices new ways of thinking and acting. It is useful for anxiety, depression, sleep and eating challenges, and for managing mood swings.

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening, empathy, and building a trusting relationship. It is helpful when someone needs a calm space to talk through relationship stress, grief, caregiving strain, or feelings of emptiness.

Finding the right approach is a team effort. The therapist will talk with each person about goals and preferences and then choose or combine methods that fit. This happens in the first sessions and can be adjusted as work progresses to match what helps most.

Online formats make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life. Video calls let people see facial expressions and hold longer conversations. Phone sessions work when bandwidth is limited or a shorter check-in is needed. Live chat and text messaging allow for brief updates, coaching-style notes, or ongoing reflection between sessions. Together these options offer flexibility while maintaining steady therapeutic progress.