Denise Smith , LPC

Denise Smith is a Licensed Professional Counselor with more than 17 years of experience working with people facing stress, anxiety, mood concerns, and addiction. She practices in Texas and brings a plainspoken, respectful style to conversations about life changes and relationship pain. Denise focuses on helping clients feel heard and on practical steps they can use between sessions.

She tailors conversations and plans to each person's needs rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach. That might mean breaking problems into smaller steps, practicing new ways to cope, or finding clearer ways to say what matters in a relationship. Denise supports people navigating grief, trauma, parenting strain, and issues around intimacy and self-esteem.

Her background includes longtime work with LGBTQ people and those exploring nontraditional sexual cultures, and she has clinical experience with bipolar disorder, panic attacks, and co-occurring substance use concerns. She uses techniques from client-centered therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, mindfulness, and motivational interviewing to match care to the problem at hand.

Sessions are practical and collaborative. Denise aims to make goals concrete and to teach tools people can use day to day. She also helps people weigh options and make changes when life shifts or stress builds.

Denise works in English and sees clients in Texas. She is available for online formats and for people outside the U.S. who choose to work with a Texas-licensed clinician.

How therapeutic approaches fit into online care

Client-centered therapy focuses on listening and following what matters most to the client. The therapist offers support, reflects what is said, and helps people set goals that feel relevant to their lives. This approach suits people who want a respectful, collaborative space to make sense of their situation.

Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, teaches practical tools to change unhelpful thinking and behavior. It often includes short exercises or homework to practice between sessions and is useful for anxiety, depression, panic, and mood concerns. Dialectical behavior therapy, or DBT, adds skills for managing intense emotions and improving relationships through clear, step-by-step techniques.

Finding the right approach is a shared process. The therapist will discuss goals, try specific techniques, and adjust methods based on what feels most helpful. Clients and the therapist decide together which tools to use and when to change course.

Online therapy offers flexibility with video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video is good for face-to-face conversation and skills practice. Phone sessions can fit into a busy day and need less bandwidth. Live chat or texting can be a shorter check-in or a way to work between longer sessions. These options make it simpler to keep therapy consistent while balancing work, family, and travel.