**An important note before we get started: I am currently living overseas and am offering messaging ONLY services to new clients due to the time difference. In the future we may work towards a phone or video session if schedules allow.* Hello and welcome! If you’re here, it’s probably not because you’re feeling great about life at the moment. You might be feeling pretty miserable. Maybe you aren’t sure what steps to take or how to talk about it. That is okay! Change can be scary and challenging. That is why it can be helpful to have someone in your corner to provide support and help you figure out where you are and where you want to be. I am Katie Smith, a licensed professional counselor (LPC/LCMHC) in North Carolina. I have experience working with adults, teens, and families in both individual and group settings. I have enjoyed working with a variety of clients, including survivors of trauma, domestic violence and sexual assault, military spouses, and those experiencing anxiety, depression, and borderline personality disorder (BPD). As a therapist intensively trained in Dialectical Behavior Therapy, I have worked extensively with clients experiencing chronic suicidal thoughts and chaotic interpersonal relationships. My approach to counseling is grounded in person-centered and cognitive behavioral theories. All that really means is that I have respect for your individuality and ability to direct your own path. I believe that, even if you don’t feel like it right now, you are the expert on your life. My job is to collaborate with you on determining your goals and individual needs. My hope is to empower each client to take charge of their narrative and determine their own path. My role as counselor will be to provide support through unconditional positive regard and a strong client-counselor therapeutic relationship as we explore thought and behavior patterns. Let’s get started on developing more productive ways to handle the issues that are standing in the way of your goals. “It’s not a matter of letting go—you would if you could. Instead of ‘let it go’ we should probably say ‘let it be.'” ~Jon Kabat-Zinn