Dr. Smith has been extremely helpful, she has a gentle spirit and knows how to gently ease you into talking. Knows when to ask questions for clarification and to get you thinking in different ways. I am so grateful and truly enjoy the feeling of being heard and supported.
Dr. Maisha Haywood Smith, LCSW
Experienced mental health professional
Provides online counseling through BetterHelp
At a glance
Maisha is an experienced, licensed Mental Health Professional who specializes in affordable online therapy offered through our partner, BetterHelp.
- 4.5 stars
- Clients are very satisfied with Maisha. View 15 reviews
- Speaks English
- Offers Telehealth visits
- Licensed in California
Recent reviews
Dr. Haywood has been very helpful and has provided resources and advice on every area of help that I need. Being new to therapy, I am happy to have her! She’s a great listener, responds quickly, flexible and always shows up for me. Thanks for all you do!
More about Maisha
- 11 years' experience
- Female
- LCSW
I am licensed in California with 10 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, coping with grief and loss, motivation, self esteem, and confidence, & career difficulties. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. I will tailor our dialog and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. It takes courage to seek out a more fulfilling and happier life and to take the first steps towards a change. I am here to support & empower you in that journey.
Specialties
Stress
Anxiety
Self esteem
Career difficulties
ADHD
Caregiver issues and stress
Life purpose
Multicultural concerns
Women's issues
Licenses
Dr. Maisha Haywood Smith's National Provider Identifier (NPI) is 1922887694.
- LCSW · California · 117978 · Expires September 2025
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 Dr. Maisha Haywood Smith
All reviews have been submitted by clients after seeing the provider.
Overall rating:
Dr. Smith has been extremely helpful, she has a gentle spirit and knows how to gently ease you into talking. Knows when to ask questions for clarification and to get you thinking in different ways. I am so grateful and truly enjoy the feeling of being heard and supported.
Dr. Haywood has been very helpful and has provided resources and advice on every area of help that I need. Being new to therapy, I am happy to have her! She’s a great listener, responds quickly, flexible and always shows up for me. Thanks for all you do!
I have never had a therapist like her. She genuinely listens and remembers things I’ve talked about. She offers great advice and send helpful tips and reminders. She is smart and calm. I am so grateful for her.
She is terrific and very helpful and practical and empathetic
Always a positive experience whether we are creating a future plan or routine which may help me better understand myself or current circumstances or simply listening. Each session is unique and progressive :)
Very kind, patient and listens! Gives you worksheets so both parties are on same page!
Dr Haywood Smith is a goal oriented & thought provoking therapist. She is attentive as well as responsive when needs are expressed.
Very kind and caring. Had a lot of suggestions to help me with my issues.
Great listener, Great at breaking down steps for you if you have ADHD, Very welcoming and warm, Checks up on you, Is very understanding, List goes on and on, Dr. Haywood is the best!
Dr. Smith is so helpful!
Dr.Haywood has been a true support system in my life since working with her. A true anchor ! I am so grateful
Dr Maisha is an extremely sweet and kind person. She understands your issues. I need more oral practice at being assertive and she's asked me to send her recordings of me speaking in an assertive way......I think that's awesome
Dr. Haywood takes the time to listen to my concerns and issues before offering feedback. Knowing that I can just talk about what I need to talk about without interruption is exactly what I needed. When I am done, she offers thoughtful observations and tools to help me navigate next steps in handling the situation.
In a short amount of time I have felt such a relief with Dr.Haywood’s help. She is an excellent listener and I love how she truly understands what I need help with and then we make a plan. We make weekly plans/ goals and all of this has helped me immensely. My weekly session with Dr. Haywood is always something I look forward to in my week!!!! I am so grateful
First time taking therapy, and I feel like I lucked out! Dr. Smith listens and will always end the session with recap of what we went over. I tend to forget what we talked about, so it helps.
Frequently asked questions
Does Dr. Maisha Haywood Smith offer telehealth visits?
Yes. Dr. Maisha Haywood 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 Dr. Maisha Haywood Smith speak?
Dr. Maisha Haywood Smith speaks English.
How many years of experience does Dr. Maisha Haywood Smith have?
Dr. Maisha Haywood Smith has 11 years of experience.
Where is Dr. Maisha Haywood Smith licensed to practice?
Dr. Maisha Haywood Smith is licensed to practice in California.
Does Dr. Maisha Haywood Smith accept clients outside of the United States?
No, Dr. Maisha Haywood Smith does not accept 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."
How can I communicate with Dr. Maisha Haywood Smith?
Dr. Maisha Haywood 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 Dr. Maisha Haywood 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.
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.