Paula Smith

Paula Smith is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) practicing in Texas with four years of clinical experience. She works with people facing stress, anxiety, depression, addiction, trauma and abuse, and questions of identity, including LGBT concerns. Paula also helps with relationship strain, grief, low self-esteem, and mood disorders such as bipolar disorder.

She focuses on practical skills and clear conversations. Sessions often include concrete tools from approaches like cognitive behavioral work and mindfulness. Paula uses direct discussion and structured exercises to address patterns that keep people stuck or overwhelmed.

Paula draws on a range of methods including Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and psychodynamic ideas to look at how past experiences affect current choices. She talks with clients about attachment, communication habits, and caregiving stress when relevant. Expect a mix of short-term problem solving and deeper reflection depending on needs.

People who are managing chronic illness, caregiver strain, blended family challenges, or first responder stress will find issues she commonly addresses. She also works with concerns around codependency, commitment, control, and forgiveness. Paula helps clients name practical next steps and practice new ways of coping.

To begin, clients complete a brief matching questionnaire and schedule a first session. Cost varies by location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time. Sessions are offered in English and international clients are not accepted.

How Paula uses evidence-based approaches online

CBT, or cognitive behavioral therapy, focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing them with practical experiments and behavior changes. It is commonly used for anxiety, depression, and stress related to work or life transitions. DBT, or dialectical behavior therapy, emphasizes emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and clearer communication. It is helpful when intense emotions or relationship conflict get in the way of daily functioning. Mindfulness therapy brings attention to present-moment experience and can reduce reactivity to stressors while improving focus.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work together. Paula will discuss goals, symptoms, and preferences to decide whether CBT, DBT, mindfulness, or a mix fits best. That decision is revisited as therapy proceeds so methods can shift to meet changing needs.

Session formats are not specified in the biography, so confirm current options before booking. Online work can make it simpler to fit sessions into everyday life, for example by avoiding travel time or enabling shorter check-ins on busy days. Talk with Paula about what session length and rhythm would fit your routine and the kinds of exercises you want to practice between meetings.