Carson Smith

Hello! My name is Carson Smith and I am originally from Los Angeles, California. Throughout my life, I’ve had a strong desire to help others with an emphasis on non-judgment, empathy, and how to achieve individual goals. Relationships have always intrigued me, specifically how people interact with others, but also themselves. As a result, I received a Bachelor of Science in Psychology at Texas Christian University, with a minor in Business. Studying neurobiology, motivation, behavior, basic counseling skills, and more gave me a foundational understanding of how the brain works and how to work well with others. My minor in business provided me with insight into areas like leadership, finance, accounting, and marketing. Together, they helped me develop skills such as honoring unique perspectives, creative problem-solving, and how to connect with diverse groups of people. These skills proved useful when I worked at a non-profit that provides individualized support to teens and adults with developmental disabilities in their communities. This experience taught me that all people deserve respect, care, and the opportunity to grow. It also confirmed one of my philosophical beliefs that all people are resilient and capable of positive change. I graduated from St. Edward’s University with a Master of Arts in Counseling specializing in Licensed Marriage and Family Therapy (LMFT). I have learned counseling skills, counseling theories, ethics, how systems play a role in everyone’s life, and the importance of diversity, power, and privilege. I have primarily used the Solution-Focused model in counseling though I am a client-centered counselor drawing on the best process, tools, and support to meet the needs of each individual client. I believe that all clients are capable of change, resilient, and have numerous strengths that they can utilize to solve their problems. My goal when I meet with clients is to have a “beginner’s mind” where I do not try to fill in any blanks, draw conclusions, or judge. Simply, I want to get to know my clients for who they are and meet them where they are so we can begin build a safe relationship to foster the change the client desires. Change is inevitable, so improvement is always possible. I believe clients are the experts in their lives, so I want to collaborate with them to accomplish goals. My areas of interest are anxiety, depression, breakups, relational conflict, mindfulness, trauma, grief and loss, men’s mental health, sexuality, and other mental health challenges. I want to work with all types of people from all walks of life because everyone deserves to feel confident, comfortable, and cared for. If you are looking for support, it would be a privilege to work with you and be a part of your journey. Seeking counseling can be hard, so I want to provide a safe space where you can accomplish your goals, feel understood, and not feel judged for being you. I believe together we can create positive change and growth.