Shanua Smith , LPC-MH

Shanua Smith is a licensed professional counselor, LPC-MH, who helps people manage stress, anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship strain, and many life changes. She practices in South Dakota and brings 19 years of clinical experience to her work. Shanua aims to make hard conversations feel manageable and to help people find steady footing during difficult times.

Her sessions are rooted in listening first. She creates a calm, nonjudgmental space where clients can talk about what matters most. From there she and the client shape practical steps that fit the person’s life and goals. Sessions focus on small, doable changes as well as deeper processing when needed.

Shanua uses tools from client-centered work and cognitive behavioral therapy to help people spot patterns and try new responses. She also draws on trauma-focused methods and EMDR when past events keep affecting day-to-day life. Motivational interviewing is part of her toolkit for people seeking change or struggling with addictions and motivation.

Common concerns she addresses include grief, anger, self-esteem, parenting strain, intimacy issues, sleep and eating concerns, and career stress. Additional focuses listed include attachment and abandonment, caregiver stress, and challenges related to autism and body image. Shanua balances symptom-focused strategies with attention to personal values and relationships.

People who choose Shanua can expect clear goals, steady feedback, and a practical focus on coping skills. She invites clients to move at their own pace while building tools for lasting change.

How Shanua's Approaches Work Online

Client-centered therapy focuses on listening and responding to what each person brings. The therapist follows the client's lead, helps reflect feelings, and supports clients in naming goals and values. Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, looks at patterns of thought and behavior and teaches simple skills to change unhelpful reactions and improve mood and functioning. EMDR, or eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, helps people reduce the emotional impact of distressing memories through guided processing and can be used when past events keep affecting daily life.

Choosing the right approach is a collaboration. Shanua discusses options with each person, tries methods that match the problem and the client's comfort, and adjusts techniques over time. The plan is reviewed regularly so therapy stays focused on the client's goals and progress.

Online sessions offer flexibility for people balancing work, family, and health needs. Video calls allow face-to-face interaction for skill practice and emotional processing. Phone sessions can be shorter check-ins or a lower-bandwidth option. Live chat and text-based messaging support quick check-ins, homework review, and ongoing encouragement between sessions. These formats help clients fit therapy into busy schedules and keep momentum between appointments.