Shawn Smith , LCSW

Shawn Smith is a licensed clinical social worker in Louisiana with 30 years of experience supporting people through difficult transitions and healing from trauma. As an LCSW - Licensed Clinical Social Worker - she combines extensive clinical skill with a compassionate, culturally responsive stance to help clients move toward greater emotional balance and personal empowerment.

Her work centers on family dynamics, trauma recovery, and strengthening self-esteem, and she regularly supports individuals facing grief, anxiety, depression, parenting challenges, relationship struggles, and anger. She also has focused experience working with women, young adults, military veterans, and survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence. Shawn helps clients build clearer communication, repair relationships where possible, and develop resilient coping strategies for life changes.

Shawn emphasizes each person’s unique story and cultural background, offering an affirming environment that honors individual strengths. She draws on a warm, collaborative approach to guide clients as they explore goals, practice new skills, and cultivate healthier ways of relating to themselves and others. Her aim is to walk alongside people as they pursue healing, growth, and renewed purpose.

Evidence-Based Approaches for Online Support

Shawn Smith uses client-centered therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) to guide online work. Client-centered therapy focuses on empathy, active listening, and building on a person’s strengths to support self-esteem, life transitions, and stronger relationships. Cognitive behavioral therapy helps identify unhelpful thoughts and behaviors and teaches practical skills to reduce anxiety, manage depressive patterns, and cope with stress. Dialectical behavior therapy emphasizes emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness skills that can be especially helpful for intense emotions, anger, and relationship difficulties.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Shawn collaborates with each person to determine which methods fit their goals, needs, and preferences, adjusting the plan over time as progress is made and circumstances change.

Online therapy with Shawn can be delivered by video call, phone session, live chat, or text-based messaging, offering flexibility for busy schedules, caregiving responsibilities, or geographic distance. These options make it easier to access consistent support, practice skills between sessions, and maintain continuity of care when life circumstances shift.