Naomi Smith (she/her)

My work is grounded in Humanistic therapy, which serves as the foundation for how I approach every client. I believe each person has inherent worth, the capacity for growth, and the freedom to make meaningful choices in their life. I provide a safe, non-judgmental space to help clients explore their feelings, thoughts, and values. In this way, they increase self-understanding, and can work toward aligning their behaviors with the life they want to live.

The roots of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy can be traced all the way back to Stoicism. We have long understood that our thoughts are powerful. They can create and shape our reality. Depression, anxiety, and trauma can shift our thoughts too far to the negative, creating emotions of hopelessness, fear, and insecurity. The goal of CBT therapy is not to turn ourselves into idealistic optimists, rather to evaluate our thoughts on two criteria: truth and helpfulness.

CPT therapy is my preferred method for treating trauma, though I also have experience with TREM and TF-CBT, and bring in those skills to complement therapy. Cognitive Processing Therapy combines the efficacy of CBT therapy with deeper processing skills that allow us to uncover the impact of trauma on our sense of self, our sense of other people, and the world at large. CPT therapy is effective for many different sorts of trauma, from one-time traumatic events to the more systemic complex-PTSD.

As I specialized in trauma therapy, I became more effective working with my clients who experienced grief and loss. Losing someone—expectedly or unexpectedly—can be life-altering and destabilizing. Grief, like trauma, can leave us feeling stuck in our depression and fear, stuck in our unanswered questions, and stuck in overwhelming emotions. I use the skills I developed as a trauma therapist to help clients process and heal through their grief journey.

From the start of my career, I have had special interest in trauma and how it impacts mental health. My master’s thesis focused on the re-victimization cycle, deepening my understanding of trauma patterns and recovery. I led a Trauma, Empowerment, and Recovery group (TREM) for two years, and was trained in Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT). I continue to use CPT therapy with my clients today, and often incorporate skills from TREM and TF-CBT to complement the sessions.

Healthy self-esteem is foundational to how we work, learn, relate, and imagine our future. When past wounds go unaddressed, they can quietly shape how we see ourselves and limit what we believe is possible. By uncovering and processing those experiences, and developing balanced, compassionate perspectives, we can rewrite the internal narrative and build a stronger, more confident sense of self. I use the skills I developed as a trauma therapist to help clients repair their self-esteem.