Dr. Courtney Chism

Dr. Courtney Chism is an AL LICSW with 16 years of clinical experience working in Alabama. She helps people facing stress, anxiety, relationship concerns, trauma and abuse, low self-esteem, and depression. Her practice also addresses related issues such as abandonment, attachment struggles, body image, caregiver stress, chronic illness and pain, and difficulties around commitment and communication.

Courtney uses a client-centered approach that focuses on the person's goals and experiences. She draws on practical methods from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and mindfulness to help people notice patterns and try different responses. Sessions move at a pace set by the person in therapy, with emphasis on concrete skills and real-life application.

She pays attention to how past hurts and attachment injuries show up in current relationships. That can include work on trust, forgiveness, guilt, shame, and managing impulses. When chronic illness or caregiving stress is present, she helps people balance practical needs with emotional coping strategies.

Courtney aims to make sessions a place for straightforward discussion about what is getting in the way of daily functioning. She helps people identify small, achievable changes and practices they can use between sessions. The focus is on clear tools and steady progress rather than quick fixes.

People who feel stuck after a life change, who question what matters next, or who want to reduce recurring anxiety may find this approach useful. She conducts work in English and does not accept international clients.

Therapeutic approaches and online care

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people focus on valued directions while accepting hard feelings that come up. It supports decisions about what matters next rather than promising immediate answers. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at how thoughts and behaviors keep problems going and teaches practical skills for changing those patterns. Mindfulness therapy emphasizes present-moment noticing and steadying attention to reduce automatic reactivity and support clearer choices.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to choose which methods to try based on goals, preferences, and what shows up in early sessions. That means testing approaches, adjusting strategies, and checking in about what is helpful as therapy progresses.

The therapist's biography does not specify which session formats are offered, so confirm current options before booking. Many people find online sessions useful for fitting therapy into a busy week, keeping appointments when travel is difficult, or having a shorter check-in if time is limited. Online work can also make it easier to use skills between sessions in real-life settings. Licensed professionals can adapt ACT, CBT, and mindfulness exercises for remote work while focusing on clear steps and practical tools.