Cara Smith, LCSW, CSW - Therapist in Georgia

About Cara

Cara Smith welcomes people who are worried about parenting, family strain, or personal overwhelm. She focuses on practical steps that help parents and caregivers manage stress, sleep disruption, relationship tension, and the challenges that come with life changes. Her opening aim is to make the first visit feel straightforward and manageable for a busy household.

Cara is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LCSW, with 20 years of experience. She has worked with children, adolescents, adults, and older adults in a range of settings.

Background and approach

That breadth means she is used to meeting people where they are and adjusting pace to fit each person’s needs. In sessions she keeps the work direct and down to earth. Conversations focus on real-life problems like anxiety, depression, parenting struggles, attention difficulties, and workplace stress.

She uses methods that help change thoughts and behaviors, build coping skills, and improve communication at home. Cara aims to create an open space where people can name what’s hard without feeling judged. She helps clients set clear goals, practice new skills, and try small changes between visits.

Many people find that breaking problems into manageable steps reduces overwhelm. Her additional areas of focus include adoption and foster care, caregiver stress, body image, codependency, and intimacy-related issues. She also supports people facing panic attacks, bipolar mood challenges, addictions, and compassion fatigue.

Cara works in Georgia and offers services in English.

How Cara’s therapeutic approaches translate to online work

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and trying small behavioral changes to test new ways of coping. It is often used for anxiety, depression, panic, and stress related to parenting or work. Client-Centered Therapy centers the conversation on what matters most to the person in front of the therapist, offering support and reflection to help someone find their own solutions. Dialectical Behavior Therapy, DBT, teaches practical skills for managing intense emotions, improving relationships, and tolerating distress in daily life.

Finding the right mix of these approaches is part of the process. The therapist works collaboratively to learn your goals and preferences, then chooses techniques that fit your situation. That may mean practicing CBT exercises between sessions, trying DBT skills for emotion regulation, or using a client-centered tone when you need support and validation.

Confirm current session options before booking so you know which online formats are offered. Many people find online sessions easier to fit into a busy day, such as shorter check-ins during a break, or meetings that avoid travel time. Online work can make consistent appointments more practical while still focusing on skills, communication, and problem solving that apply at home and in family life.

Client-Centered Therapy

The direction comes from you rather than from a set programme. The therapist offers a warm, non-judgemental space to think out loud and work at your own pace. Online, this rests on the relationship rather than on being in the same room.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT looks at the link between what you think, how you feel, and what you do. You work on noticing unhelpful patterns and practising steadier responses. It suits online sessions well, because much of the work happens between appointments and can be talked through from anywhere.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

Concrete skills for riding out strong emotion, tolerating distress, and handling relationships without things escalating. The skills are practised in daily life, so between-session support by message or phone fits naturally.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does she address related to family life?

She helps with parenting stress, family conflict, communication problems, and intimacy-related issues, along with related challenges like sleep, anger, and caregiver strain.

What kind of approach does she use in sessions?

Cara uses client-centered approaches along with cognitive behavioral and dialectical behavior techniques to help people change unhelpful patterns and learn new coping skills.

How long has she worked in this field?

She has 20 years of professional experience working with children, adolescents, adults, and older adults in multiple settings.

What credentials and location information are provided?

Cara holds an LCSW and CSW and is licensed in Georgia.

Which languages are supported for sessions?

Sessions are offered in English.

Can people outside the country work with her?

International clients are not currently accepted.

How is cost structured for sessions?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.

What are the first steps to begin working together?

Use the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.

Specialties and expertise

Top specialties

Stress, Anxiety
Relationship issues
Self esteem

Also works with

Therapeutic approaches

Experience: 20 years
Licensed: Georgia
Languages: English

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