ChangeAtYourPace.org Need help now?

Therapist listings are provided by BetterHelp. We will earn a commission at no additional cost to you if you use our links to purchase.

Vanessa Smith

Vanessa Smith

LPC, LCSW

Louisiana

Motivational, person-centered care

Continue with Vanessa

At a glance

Credentials
LPC, LCSW
License
LPC, Louisiana / 6699; LPC, Texas / 92021; LCSW, Texas / 111588; LCSW, Virginia / 0904015865; LCSW, Louisiana / 14194; LCSW, Arkansas / 22641-C
Experience
6 years
Languages
English
Location
Louisiana

Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.

    • Warm and interactive
    • Goal-focused
    • Practical coping skills

    About Vanessa

    Vanessa Smith is an LPC and LCSW based in Louisiana with six years of clinical experience. She approaches therapy in a warm, interactive way and focuses on helping people navigate stress, anxiety, grief, addiction, and life transitions. Her style emphasizes respect for each person's own knowledge about their life while offering guidance and practical support.

    She uses Motivational Interviewing to help people find their own reasons to change and to build commitment to goals. She also draws on client-centered ideas that put the person’s priorities first. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy techniques are introduced when helpful to change thinking and behavior patterns that keep someone stuck.

    Sessions often focus on clear, goal-oriented work such as coping skills for stress, strategies to manage mood, and steps to reduce substance use. Vanessa also helps people work through relationship strain, parenting challenges, and rebuilding after loss. She aims to help people gain new perspectives and practical ways to move forward.

    Clients can expect a collaborative tone where the therapist asks questions, reflects what she hears, and helps set small, achievable steps. Vanessa emphasizes listening first, then offering tools tailored to each person’s situation. The work is guided by the client’s goals rather than a fixed plan.

    Her background combines humanistic values with structured methods like CBT and DBT skills when needed. This mix supports both emotional understanding and concrete behavior change. People looking for a respectful, straightforward approach to life challenges may find her style a good fit.

  2. How Vanessa's Approaches Translate to Online Work

    Vanessa uses Motivational Interviewing to help people find their own motivation for change by asking open questions and reflecting what she hears; this can be useful for reducing substance use or tackling hard habits. She also practices Client-Centered Therapy, which focuses on listening, empathy, and following the person's agenda so sessions reflect whatever matters most that day. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy offers short, practical strategies to spot unhelpful thoughts and try new behaviors, useful for anxiety, low mood, and stress.

    Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Vanessa will work with each person to decide which methods fit their goals and preferences. She typically starts by listening closely, then suggests techniques and small steps to try together, adjusting as progress is made.

    The original profile does not specify which online session formats are offered, so please confirm current options before booking. In general, online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life, shorten check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. It can also allow for flexible scheduling around work, caregiving, or other commitments while focusing on the same therapeutic goals as in-person care.

  4. Areas of expertise

    Primary focus

    Stress, AnxietyAddictionsGriefSelf esteemDepression

    Also works with

    Relationship issuesFamily conflictsTrauma and abuseParenting issuesBipolar disorderCoping with life changesCompassion fatigue

    Additional focus areas

    Drug and alcohol addictionLife purpose

    Therapeutic approaches

    Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Motivational InterviewingSolution-Focused Therapy

    Experience

    6+ years

    Listed in

    Louisiana, Texas, Virginia, Arkansas

    Languages

    English

  5. Frequently asked questions

    What kinds of concerns does she help with?

    She works with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, relationship and family concerns, parenting challenges, trauma and abuse, bipolar issues, compassion fatigue, and addictions including drug and alcohol problems.

    What is her therapeutic style like?

    Her style is warm and interactive, focused on listening first and collaborating on goals. She guides people using a person-centered approach and practical tools.

    What experience does she bring?

    She has six years of clinical experience working with people from varied backgrounds on mood, substance use, relationship strain, life changes, and returning citizens.

    What credentials and location are listed?

    She holds LPC and LCSW credentials and practices in Louisiana.

    Which languages are offered and can international clients book?

    Sessions are offered in English, and international clients are not currently accepted.

    What session formats are available?

    The original profile does not list specific session formats; please confirm current session options before booking.

    How does the subscription and cost structure work?

    Cost varies with location and therapist availability, and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.

    How do I begin if I want to work together?

    Click the Start Therapy button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to the therapist's availability.

  6. Online talk therapy is not emergency or medical care. Stopping or cutting down alcohol or other drugs can be unsafe without medical advice. In immediate danger? Crisis numbers

Back to all therapists

Vanessa Smith Continue with Vanessa