Dianne Smith , LMFT

Dianne Smith is a licensed marriage and family therapist with more than four decades of practice. She brings a straightforward, action-focused style and aims to help people learn skills they can use day to day. Dianne believes in combining kindness with clear guidance to move people past what keeps them stuck.

She emphasizes education and skill building so clients can manage stress, anxiety, and life changes more effectively. Sessions often focus on practical tools and new ways of thinking that fit each person’s values and goals. The goal is steady progress rather than quick fixes.

Dianne draws on approaches that address trauma, thinking patterns, and emotional regulation. She uses techniques from cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy alongside trauma-focused work. These methods are applied in ways that help people handle intense emotions and rebuild routines after difficult events.

She also works with concerns around relationships, parenting, grief, addiction, anger, self-esteem, and women’s issues. Dianne listens for what matters most to each person and tailors strategies to their situation. Her direct style is paired with compassion so people feel guided as they learn new skills.

In sessions she will help set clear goals and teach tools that can be practiced between meetings. The focus is on gradual change: small steps that add up. Dianne aims to be a practical partner in the work of getting unstuck and moving forward.

Approaches for building coping skills and healing online

Dianne uses cognitive behavioral therapy to help people notice and change unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors. CBT focuses on small, practical steps people can try between sessions to reduce anxiety, manage mood, and improve problem solving.

She also draws on dialectical behavior therapy to teach emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and better ways to relate to others. DBT-style skills can be useful for handling strong emotions, reducing self-harm urges, and improving relationships.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Dianne will collaborate with each person to pick methods that match their goals, experiences, and day-to-day demands. She checks progress and adapts techniques as needed so the plan fits the client.

Online sessions are offered by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to make therapy fit different lives. Video works well for in-depth conversation and teaching skills with visual cues. Phone can be a lower-bandwidth option or a simpler check-in. Live chat and text messaging are helpful for short updates, quick skills coaching, and staying connected between longer sessions. These formats aim to make it easier to practice tools consistently and keep momentum toward goals.