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RS Portrait of Rena Smith
Online therapist

Rena Smith

Calm, practical therapy for life’s hard moments

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Credentials
LCSW
Experience
23 years
Licensed in
Louisiana
Languages
English
Format
Online sessions

About Rena

Rena Smith is a licensed clinical social worker with 23 years of experience who uses straightforward, practical therapy to help people facing common life challenges. She focuses on reducing stress and anxiety, addressing addictions, and working through trauma and relationship struggles. Her style emphasizes respect for each person’s strengths and choices.

She encourages small, doable steps that add up to real change. Rena draws on approaches like Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Client-Centered Therapy to match techniques to each person’s needs.

Background and approach

That might mean learning skills to change unhelpful thoughts, practicing acceptance of difficult feelings, or guiding conversations that clarify values and goals. She also uses Motivational Interviewing to support readiness for change and Solution-Focused techniques to set short-term goals.

Over more than two decades Rena has worked with many concerns including grief, parenting stress, eating and anger issues, career transitions, and compassion fatigue. Additional areas of attention include codependency, family of origin issues, life purpose, and substance-related concerns. She keeps language simple and concrete so people can use what they learn right away.

Sessions aim to be collaborative. Rena listens first, then helps create a plan that fits each person’s life and priorities. Her practice is based in Louisiana and she offers services in English.

Rena holds the license LCSW, LA LCSW 5663, and expects therapy to be a gradual, practical process where the client’s perspective guides the work.

Therapeutic approaches and what online work looks like

Rena commonly blends Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people move forward. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy focuses on noticing difficult thoughts and feelings without getting stuck in them, then choosing actions that match personal values. This can help when stress, grief, or lingering trauma make everyday life feel heavy. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy helps identify and change thoughts and behaviors that keep problems going, which is useful for anxiety, mood shifts, and compulsive habits.

She approaches treatment as a collaborative process. Together the client and therapist will test approaches, see what helps, and adjust the plan based on goals and preferences. The aim is to find techniques the client can use in real life, not just talk about problems in session.

Online therapy options include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, which allow flexibility around work, childcare, and travel. These formats make it easier to keep therapy consistent while fitting sessions into a busy life. Licensed professionals can use these methods to work on skills, check progress, and stay connected between meetings.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Less about arguing with difficult thoughts, more about loosening their grip and acting on what matters to you anyway. Values and committed action carry the work, which suits conversation at a distance.

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.

Frequently asked questions

What issues does Rena commonly address?
She works with stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, relationship concerns, grief, parenting and family issues, eating problems, anger, career changes, and coping with life transitions.
What is her therapy style like?
Rena uses a straightforward, collaborative approach. She emphasizes clients' strengths and focuses on practical steps that can be used between sessions.
How long has she been practicing?
She has 23 years of professional experience working with a wide range of concerns and life challenges.
What are her credentials and where is she licensed?
Rena is a licensed clinical social worker with the credential LCSW and holds the license LA LCSW 5663 in Louisiana.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work with her?
She is not currently accepting international clients.
What session formats are available?
Rena offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to fit different needs and schedules.
How are costs and starting steps handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability and uses a subscription that can be canceled at any time. To begin, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.

Specialties and expertise

Top specialties

Also works with

Therapeutic approaches

Experience
23 years
Licensed
Louisiana
Languages
English

Next step

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