Charmaine Smith , LMFT, MD, LCMFT

Charmaine Smith, LMFT, MD, LCMFT, helps people managing stress, anxiety, and relationship strain. She focuses on building confidence, improving communication, and finding practical steps for everyday challenges. Her style is warm and respectful, and she aims to make first steps feel doable for people who are unsure where to begin.

She brings 17 years of experience working with people facing family conflict, issues around adoption and foster care, blended family challenges, and caregiver stress. She also supports those coping with body image concerns, cancer-related strain, and feelings of emptiness. Her background includes work across multiple settings and states, now practicing in Kentucky.

In sessions she adapts the conversation and plan to each person's needs. She uses tools from cognitive behavioral therapy to identify patterns and try small behavior changes. She also draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help people clarify values and make choices that feel meaningful.

Attachment-Based and Emotionally-Focused ideas shape how she looks at relationship patterns and emotional responses. Client-Centered principles guide how she listens and responds, so people feel heard and respected. Therapy is collaborative - goals grow out of what matters to the individual.

Practical matters are part of the work. She discusses what outcomes matter, what steps to try between sessions, and how progress will be measured. The aim is steady, realistic change that fits a person’s life and responsibilities.

Approaches that guide online sessions

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on clarifying what matters and taking small, meaningful actions even when uncomfortable feelings are present; it can help with anxiety, stress, and motivation. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at thoughts and behaviors to identify unhelpful patterns and try practical changes that reduce distress and improve day-to-day functioning. Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) or attachment-informed ideas help people notice emotion and connection patterns in relationships so they can shift how they respond and communicate.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will discuss options and try methods that match a person’s goals and preferences. Sessions are collaborative and can change over time as progress and needs evolve.

Online therapy is offered by licensed professionals using video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation for deeper interaction. Phone sessions can be a simpler option when bandwidth or camera use is a concern. Chat and messaging offer quick check-ins, brief coaching, or ongoing reflection between longer sessions. These options make it easier to fit therapy into busy schedules, handle follow-up tasks, and keep momentum between meetings.