- Warm and respectful
- Skill-based strategies
- Long clinical experience
About Kelly
Kelly Smith is a licensed clinical social worker with three decades of experience offering calm, steady support. Kelly meets people where they are and helps them sort through stress, anxiety, depression, relationship concerns, grief, and challenges tied to identity or addiction. The tone in sessions is warm and respectful, and Kelly aims to make conversations feel manageable for a worried parent reading on a phone.
Kelly uses practical conversation and listening to build a working plan with each person. Sessions often focus on problem-solving, learning new coping skills, and making sense of painful experiences. Mindfulness tools and techniques to change unhelpful thinking are commonly used alongside deeper, reflective work about past patterns.
With 30 years as a clinical social worker, Kelly brings long experience across different situations, including trauma, ADHD, and issues around intimacy and attachment. The LCSW credential is held in New York and Virginia and informs a clinical perspective that balances symptom-focused strategies with attention to life history.
People who contact Kelly can expect an interactive, compassionate style. Kelly emphasizes validation, clear goals, and practical steps you can use between sessions. The aim is to make progress feel steady and realistic rather than rushed.
Kelly also pays attention to adoption and foster care matters when relevant to a person’s story, and will tailor conversations to those experiences. If you’re ready to explore change, Kelly will work with you to build a plan that fits your life.
How Kelly’s Approaches Translate to Online Work
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and responding to what matters most to you. It’s about building a safe working relationship and using your goals to shape each session. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at how thoughts affect feelings and behavior and teaches concrete skills to shift unhelpful patterns. This can help with anxiety, depression, and stress. Dialectical Behavior Therapy, or DBT, brings practical strategies for managing strong emotions and improving how you handle conflict and stress.Finding the right approach is part of the process. Kelly will talk with you about your needs and goals, and together you’ll decide which methods to emphasize. The work is collaborative, with room to try different strategies and adjust as you go.
If you are considering online sessions, confirm the current session options before booking so you know what formats are available. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy day, offer shorter check-ins when needed, and allow use of audio-only options when video isn’t convenient. Kelly will help align session length and focus to fit your routine and goals so therapy feels useful and manageable.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
30+ years
Credentials
New York, California, Virginia, Washington
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does Kelly commonly address?
Kelly works with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, relationship and intimacy issues, grief, addictions, ADHD, and related areas such as self-esteem and coping with life changes.
How would you describe Kelly’s therapy style?
The approach is warm, interactive, and engaging, with an emphasis on validation, respect, and practical skills to use between sessions.
What experience does Kelly bring to therapy?
Kelly has 30 years of experience as a psychotherapist and clinical supervisor, working with a wide range of concerns including trauma and identity-related challenges.
What are Kelly’s credentials and where do they practice?
Kelly holds the LCSW credential and maintains licensure in New York and Virginia, and practices from Virginia.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English.
Does Kelly work with international clients?
International clients are not currently accepted.
How are sessions scheduled and what is the cost?
Costs vary with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with Kelly?
Use the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.