Lauren Smithee (she/they)

My goal is to empower clients to work through a combination of evidence-based techniques and support. It is my personal goal to connect with each of my clients and to create a warm, supportive space for you so that you feel safe being vulnerable and exploring your thoughts and feelings. I take a compassionate, non-judgmental, yet direct approach. My approach to therapy is warm, affirming, strengths-based, relational, and integrative. I use an attachment and trauma-informed lens and therapy models such as EMDR, CBT, Gottman Method Therapy (levels 1 and 2), DBT skills, and mindful self-compassion to help you to explore relationship dynamics, behavioral patterns, and thought processes to help you become unstuck. I empower my clients to become more self-aware, develop new coping skills, and reach their goals toward healing.

As a queer person, I know how important it is to find a therapist who is knowledgeable, affirming, and whom you can trust. Providing affirming therapy is incredibly important to me professionally and personally. I have had years of training in the WPATH Standards of Care and in providing affirming therapy for those wanting to explore topics around their gender identity and sexuality. As a cisgender therapist, I know there is constantly more to learn to be the best support possible for my clients. I am a member of the LGBTQ Affirming Guild of Utah and frequently take continuing education classes throughout the year to be up to date on the latest therapy practices and interventions. I am happy to provide letters of support for gender-affirming care and strive to minimize my role as a medical gatekeeper. In my free time, I love watching movies with my wife, kiddo, and our pets, gardening, and reading. I'm passionate about animals and we have two dogs, one cat, and one ball python.