- Relationship focused
- Strengths based
- English and Spanish
About Cathy
Cathy Smith is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) with 18 years of experience who centers therapy on the relationship between therapist and client. She listens first, then helps people figure out practical steps to feel more capable and calm. Cathy draws on everyday language and straightforward tools to help with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma, and relationship concerns.
She began her career working in residential care for young people and later taught in special education across institutional, public, private, and alternative settings. Those roles shaped her interest in counseling and her focus on listening closely to each person's story. Cathy returned to school for a master’s in Counseling Psychology and combines that background with earlier training in sociology and Spanish.
Cathy uses methods that match the person's goals, including Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, mindfulness, psychodynamic ideas, and Solution-Focused Therapy. She emphasizes a strengths-based approach and partners with people to build on what already works in their lives. That practical focus guides work on issues like codependency, grief, addictions, parenting strain, and coping with life changes.
Her experience includes working with people across a wide age range and with diverse needs, including autism spectrum concerns, learning differences, and first responder stress. Cathy offers services in both English and Spanish and sees clients in Michigan and from other locations according to program options.
People choosing to begin work complete a short questionnaire to match with her and then schedule sessions. Cathy aims to help people make manageable changes and feel steadier in day-to-day life.
How her approaches translate to online work
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and understanding the person’s experience. It involves reflective conversation and gentle guidance to help someone clarify goals and feel heard. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at how thoughts and behaviors interact and uses concrete exercises to change unhelpful patterns, which can be helpful for anxiety, depression, and stress management.Finding the right approach is part of the work. Cathy will collaborate with each person to choose methods that match their goals, needs, and preferences. Together they check what is helping and adjust the plan as therapy progresses so the approach stays useful and practical.
The original biography does not list session formats, so confirm current options before booking. Online care can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when needed. It can also let people connect when they live outside Michigan or when scheduling across time zones is helpful. Licensed professionals can adapt CBT worksheets, mindfulness practices, and client-centered conversations to remote sessions to keep progress moving forward.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
18+ years
Credentials
Michigan
Languages
English, Spanish
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she help with?
Cathy helps people with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, relationship and intimacy concerns, grief, addictions, ADHD, codependency, and related life changes.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
She emphasizes a relationship-first approach and uses practical, goal-focused methods like client-centered work, CBT, mindfulness, psychodynamic ideas, and solution-focused techniques.
What is her background and clinical experience?
She has 18 years of experience, beginning in residential care for youth and later teaching in special and general education before completing a master’s in Counseling Psychology and becoming an LPC.
Where is she located and what credential does she hold?
She practices in Michigan and holds the LPC credential, listed as MI LPC.
Which languages are offered during sessions?
Sessions are offered in English and Spanish, and she accepts international clients when program options allow.
What session formats are available?
The original biography does not specify session formats, so confirm current session options before booking to know how sessions are delivered.
How much do sessions cost?
Cost varies with location and program structure; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.
Profile details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. Credential and registration rules differ between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.