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Cathy Smith, LPC

Experienced mental health professional

Provides online counseling through BetterHelp

At a glance

Cathy is an experienced, licensed Mental Health Professional who specializes in affordable online therapy offered through our partner, BetterHelp.

5.0 stars
Clients are very satisfied with Cathy. View 46 reviews
Great news, Cathy is accepting new clients!
She is normally fully-booked.
Speaks English and Spanish
Offers Telehealth visits
Licensed in Michigan

Recent reviews

Cathy is very friendly and always shows her utmost respect during our sessions.

Reviewed November 2024

She's great

Reviewed November 2024

More about Cathy

  • 18 years' experience
  • Female
  • LPC

Having graduated with undergrad degrees in Sociology (Criminology) and Spanish, I began working in a residential treatment home for youth with emotional and mental illnesses. My early work there, sparked my interest in psychology and counseling. After starting our family, I returned to school to earn a teaching certificate and a Masters degree in Special Education. After many years of teaching in a variety of settings; institutional, public, private and alternative education, I felt I really wanted more time to listen to and talk with my students. Because of this, I returned to the university once more to complete a Masters degree in Counseling Psychology, earning licensure as a Limited License Psychologist and a Licensed Professional Counselor.

Relationship is the key to effective counseling just as it is to effective teaching. Being open to learning about the life of your client; their ethnicity, culture, religion, sexual preference, work, and belief systems is important as a therapist. Knowing your own limitations is also necessary. Life is very difficult at times, especially in these times! Helping clients to live their best lives is very important work.

I use a variety of methods in working with clients. My clients’ ages have ranged from four years to seventy nine years. I work with people with depression, anxiety, PTSD, grief, trauma, sexual and physical abuse, parenting problems, and even learning disabilities and people on the autism spectrum. Motivational interviewing, client centered work, solution focused, psychoeducational work, mindfulness and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy are tools that I use, based on what the client wants to achieve and their individual needs. Permeating all that I do is a strength based approach to looking at the person, always building on and utilizing their own strengths to partner with them to become healthy and happier.

Specialties

Stress Anxiety Relationship issues Family conflicts Trauma and abuse Depression Addictions LGBT Grief Intimacy-related issues Eating disorders Sleeping disorders Parenting issues Anger management Self esteem Career difficulties Bipolar disorder Coping with life changes Coaching Compassion fatigue ADHD Abandonment Aging and geriatric issues Autism and Asperger Syndrome Blended family issues Body image Caregiver issues and stress Codependency Communication problems Control issues Coping with natural or human-caused disaster Domestic violence Emptiness First responder issues Forgiveness Guilt and shame Isolation / loneliness Jealousy Life purpose Midlife crisis Mood disorders Multicultural concerns Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD Panic disorder and panic attacks Phobias Postpartum depression Post-traumatic stress Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) Self-harm Sexual assault and abuse Smoking / vaping cessation Women's issues Young adult issues

Treatment Approaches

  • Client-Centered Therapy
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
  • Mindfulness Therapy
  • Psychodynamic Therapy
  • Solution-Focused Therapy

Licenses

Cathy Smith's National Provider Identifier (NPI) is 1528269065.

  • LPC · Michigan · 6401010540 · Expires March 2028

About online counseling

Affordable.
Pay a low flat fee.
Convenient.
Do it at your own time and at your own pace. Communicate whenever you feel it's needed.
Available now.
There is no waiting list and no calls to make. Simply fill out a short questionnaire and send your first message.

Online counseling allows you to receive care from a mental health practitioner via phone, video chat, or instant messaging. It is convenient for those who may have trouble getting to or would prefer not to have in-person therapy appointments. Starting at $65 per week, online counseling is generally more affordable than in-person counseling. A study by researchers at University of California, Berkeley found that online counseling can be just as effective as face-to-face therapy while being more convenient, affordable, and accessible.

Reviews for Cathy Smith

All reviews have been submitted by clients after seeing the provider.

Overall rating:

5.0

46 reviews

5
4
3
2
1

Clients mention: Great Understanding Easy Helpful Helped Easy to talk Grateful Listens Comfortable Confidence

Cathy is very friendly and always shows her utmost respect during our sessions.

Reviewed November 2024

She's great

Reviewed November 2024

She’s extremely compassionate and always tries to help me meet the goals I’ve set

Reviewed September 2024

So far I’ve had two sessions with Cathy. She es a lovely lady. Very knowledgeable and very honest. Would definitely recommend her over other options. She listens. She understands and gives great tools to feel better little by little.

Reviewed August 2024

Cathy is great! She is a great listener and always makes sure that I bring happiness to myself. Thank you Cathy!

Reviewed August 2024

Cathy, me gusta mucho que fuera de las terapias siempre estaba para mis preguntas , responde con rapidez.

Reviewed June 2024

Cathy is an absolute delight! Taking the leap to start therapy was difficult for me and I was incredibly nervous with all that was going on in my life, but Cathy has been so supportive, understanding, and empathetic that I wish I would have started sooner. She makes me feel comfortable and welcome with no judgement during every session. Cathy brings with her not only a unique outlook, but curiosity, kindness, and wisdom. Even working with her for just a few weeks, I feel confident in her experience and ability to help me reach my goals.

Reviewed January 2024

Cathy’s way to listen create a strong sense of understanding and safety. Her questions are very insightful that brings me to see a higher perspectives to my challenges.

Reviewed December 2023

Cathy was my first therapist and helped me heal through one of the toughest times in my life. She helped teach me good coping skills and how to handle my emotions better. She helped me learn how to feel my emotions rather than pushing them down, and how to cope with hard life changes. I’m so grateful for all of her help over our time spent together!

Reviewed September 2023

So easy to talk to. Very flexible and accommodating Genuinely cares and wants to see you succeed

Reviewed September 2023

Cathy is the best!

Reviewed June 2023

Great!

Reviewed May 2023

Cathy is AMAZING! She is there whenever I need her! She never forgets about me and is constantly reaching out letting me know she is there for me. I really appreciate her advice and kind words. Any time I start going off the rails, she is there to guide me back on track. I love her!

Reviewed May 2023

So far Cathy has been very helpful! She has a lot of experience, easy to talk to and she's not afraid to ask questions or start the conversation about any topic especially ones that might be a more difficult to talk about at first. She is very patient and understanding and has been great to work with and I look forward to continuing to work with her.

Reviewed May 2023

Cathy has been so helpful during such a tricky time in my life! She challenges me and always refocuses my priorities to making sure I’m working on myself when I have a habit of using therapy time to discuss how others may be feeling. Being apart of the LGBTQIA+ community, Cathy has always been so supportive and open minded. I appreciate her getting me to a place where I no longer need regular weekly sessions.

Reviewed May 2023

Cathy is very knowledgeable, friendly and professional.

Reviewed February 2023

Cathy is a great listener who has good takes on topics like family, relationships and boundaries! Great to talk to her!

Reviewed January 2023

I just started therapy with Cathy, but so far she is very attentive, gives great advice, and is very sweet and caring. It’s apparent her main objective is to help people and try to make them feel better

Reviewed December 2022

One word, awesome!

Reviewed November 2022

As someone working in the helping professions, I was skeptical about finding the right person to support me in my healing journey. I am so grateful that the person I was matched with, Cathy, is not only an expert in the field but comes with an authentic and humbled approach to creating a therapeutic alliance that gives me the tools and confidence to overcome my challenges and achieve my goals. I have already recommended Cathy to someone close to me and anybody would greatly benefit from having her in your corner!

Reviewed November 2022

Love cathy she is awesome

Reviewed September 2022

Thank you, Better Help, for matching me with Cathy Smith! After only a few meetings, I felt like she knew me. I look forward to my sessions with her because I know I will sign off with a greater understanding of myself. Cathy understands my issues and has given me helpful tools for dealing with problems large and small. I feel like I have made more progress in four months with Cathy than I have in years of in-person therapy!

Reviewed August 2022

Cathy is an excellent therapist! She is very understanding and resourceful. She gives thoughtful insight, and is very willing to help you establish goals to better yourself. She is very considerate of your needs and priorities!

Reviewed August 2022

She is great. Good Spanish and gives great advices

Reviewed July 2022

My therapist is awsome

Reviewed May 2022

She's a nice person to talk to. We're in completely opposite timezones but her expertise and insight made making the odd hours sessions worthwhile. The dramatic age difference and relatively similar background experiences made it easy for me to let my guard down and really get to the bottom of any triggering issues. A slight complaint might be the internet connection's not that stable from her current location. However, her regular check-ins outside dedicated sessions made up for it.

Reviewed April 2022

Cathy has been a wonderful therapist that helped me through a tough time. When I look back on the person I was when I started speaking to Cathy versus the person I am now, I am so grateful for all the confidence boosting that Cathy gave.

Reviewed April 2022

Cathy is kind, helpful and funny. I can't recommend her enough.

Reviewed February 2022

Very kind and patient. Taught a lot of different practices which have changed my life and how I view it. A wonderful therapist

Reviewed February 2022

Cathy is very friendly, capable and understanding and makes me feel very comfortable both in our sessions and through messaging and diary entries. I feel confident that Cathy will be able to help me and I also appreciate Cathy's upbeat energy - it always makes me feel more positive!

Reviewed December 2021

Cathy is the best therapist I have EVER worked with. I’ve had different therapists over the years. Only 4 sessions in and I’ve already touched on deep things. It’s fantastic.

Reviewed November 2021

Cathy is an experienced and supportive therapist. Greatly appreciate her approach, attention and flexibility.

Reviewed November 2021

Cathy listens patiently and has a very good understanding of what I tell her She's very nice and easy to talk to and has good advice

Reviewed November 2021

She's the best therapist you can have. You'll feel so safe and confident when you talk to her. She has so much experience so she knows exactly what she has to say. Talking to her is always healing. Thanks Cathy

Reviewed November 2021

Cathy is fantastic! She listens to me and really helps me feel heard. She connects with me and has helped improve my sense of self worth a lot.

Reviewed November 2021

Cathy has been fantastic so far on my counselling journey. She listens attentively, stops me to ask productive questions and encourage conversation, and explains tools and tricks to cope with struggles. She responds quickly, compassionately, and I never feel like a clock is ticking or I'm being timed. I enjoy our sessions and look forward to continuing.

Reviewed September 2021

Cathy is very sweet and patient with listening and guiding the topic of our conversations during our sessions. I also appreciate her for messaging me throughout the week between our appointments to check in on me.

Reviewed September 2021

I’ve had really good interaction with Cathy. She’s patiently listened to me & what my issues are, and how I can change me. Very positive, fun, it’s like talking to a friend who can guide you . Not just agree.

Reviewed August 2021

Cathy is amazing. Kind and understanding. I feel like she knows exactly what I’m talking about and exactly what I need to become a better and healthier me.

Reviewed August 2021

With only two sessions with Cathy, my self-confidence returned, I am happy to have had someone to talk with, about my problems and insecurities. From now on, the decisions I make will be based on her recommendations. Thank you

Reviewed August 2021

Cathy is a great and attentive counselor, she has a variety of experience that is helpful in many ways. I always leave our sessions feeling better and more hopeful than before.

Reviewed August 2021

Cathy has been a great counselor, she’s kind, thoughtful and very easy to talk to. I’ve looked forward to talking to her and she makes me feel very comfortable and I feel like I can talk to her about anything. She’s got great insight and recommendations too!

Reviewed August 2021

I've worked with many therapists over the years and always left my sessions feeling worse or depleted. I used to dread my therapy sessions. Working with Cathy has been the exact opposite. She's so engaged the entire time we chat and makes me feel heard and cared for. I love that she has so much life experience and a wise perspective because then things feel less heavy. I would recommend Cathy to anyone who is stuck in their own head.

Reviewed July 2021

I feel grateful to have such an experienced therapist, it feels very easy to talk with her and she is really a great listener. It's also comforting just knowing she is a message away. I've only recently started meeting with her and I already feel like I am growing and making progress.

Reviewed June 2021

Cathy is very kind, intelligent and understanding. She has such a warm and welcoming personality, making it easy to open up and share with her. She has time and again recommended helpful ways for me to handle my personal hurdles and seems to really care about my well being and happiness.

Reviewed May 2021

She’s very experienced. We had one session only so far but I will get a good help for better life.

Reviewed May 2021

How was your experience with Cathy?

Frequently asked questions

Does Cathy Smith offer telehealth visits?

Yes. Cathy Smith works with clients by exchanging messages, chatting live, speaking over the phone, or video conferencing based on what works for the client at that particular time.

What language(s) does Cathy Smith speak?

Cathy Smith speaks English and Spanish.

How many years of experience does Cathy Smith have?

Cathy Smith has 18 years of experience.

Where is Cathy Smith licensed to practice?

Cathy Smith is licensed to practice in Michigan.

Does Cathy Smith accept clients outside of the United States?

Yes, Cathy Smith accepts clients outside of the United States.

Is online therapy as effective as in-person therapy?

Numerous studies support the effectiveness of online platforms in facilitating life changes. For instance, research published by JMIR Publications, conducted by teams from the University of Berkeley, UCSF, and SF General Hospital, found that "users of BetterHelp experienced significantly reduced depression symptom severity after engaging with the platform."

What treatment approaches does Cathy Smith offer?

Cathy Smith offers clients Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, and Solution-Focused Therapy.

How can I communicate with Cathy Smith?

Cathy Smith can be engaged in any one of four ways: (1) Exchanging messages, (2) chatting live, (3) speaking over the phone, or (4) video conferencing. You can use different ways at different times as you wish, based on your needs, availability, and convenience.

How do I get started with Cathy Smith?

Just tap the CHAT NOW button or tap here: A new window will open and you'll be directed to a simple form that will help start the conversation. Please note: It can take up to a few days to be matched to a therapist.

Mental health conditions are real, common, and treatable.

And recovery is possible.

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Live Chat
Phone
Video

When you tap CHAT NOW a new window will open and you'll be directed to a simple form that will help start the conversation. Please note: It can take up to a few days to be matched to a therapist.