Julie Smith , LPCC

Julie Smith is a licensed professional clinical counselor (LPCC) practicing in Kentucky. She has eight years of clinical experience helping people manage stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, anger, and depression. Julie focuses on women's issues among other concerns and works with adults who are navigating the effects of traumatic events and substance use.

She uses a person-centered style in sessions, aiming to create a supportive space where clients feel heard. Julie also draws on cognitive behavioral techniques to help people change unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns. She incorporates skills from dialectical behavior approaches to teach emotional regulation and coping tools.

Julie trained at the University of the Cumberlands, completing a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a clinical concentration in 2017 and a graduate degree in clinical mental health counseling in 2020. Her clinical work has included many adults coping with domestic violence, sexual assault and abuse, human trafficking, and stalking, alongside treatment for drug and alcohol addiction.

She commonly sees people with mood disorders, panic disorder and panic attacks, impulse control issues such as trichotillomania, and other anxiety or depression-related concerns. Sessions focus on practical skills, short-term goals, and building strategies people can use between meetings.

Julie adapted her practice to remote care during the COVID pandemic and continues to offer multiple online formats. She communicates in English and works with Kentucky-based clients through video, phone, live chat, and text-based messaging.

Therapeutic techniques and online care

Julie blends a person-centered approach with cognitive behavioral techniques to focus on what a person wants to change. Person-centered work emphasizes listening and making space for a person's experience. Cognitive behavioral techniques involve identifying patterns of thought and behavior and practicing new ways to respond; these methods are often useful for anxiety, depression, and panic.

She also uses dialectical behavior skills to teach emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and better interpersonal responses. These skills can help people manage intense emotions, reduce impulsive actions, and build steady routines. Deciding which techniques to use is collaborative - the therapist and client discuss goals, try approaches, and adjust what’s needed together.

Online therapy options include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video calls let people meet face to face without traveling. Phone sessions can be a good fit when bandwidth or cameras are limited. Live chat and text messaging work well for brief check-ins, short skill practice, or when someone prefers not to use video. These formats make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life and to keep up with regular care.