David Smith

Hello and thank you for considering me as your therapist - I am licensed as an LMHC in Iowa and have 25 years of professional work experience. My approach is one in which I recognize the significance (and courage) of your decision to consider counseling and together, we will seek out solutions that build upon your strengths. I would describe myself as accessible, empathetic, pragmatic, and action-oriented. Therapy by design will challenge anyone to step outside their comfort zone and attempt to reshape their life. Typically, we all seek out similar things in life...joy, peace, connectivity, etc...but often, we feel stuck in reaching our life goals. It is my role to assist you with assessing the issues that are preventing you from living your best life and further assisting you with seeking out alternative ways of thinking, feeling, and behaving in order to bring about that change into your life. In professional terms, I would describe myself as "eclectic" in my therapy approach but I tend to emphasize solution-focused, cognitive/behavioral, motivational, and family systems brands of therapy in approaching my work with others. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, relationship issues, anger management, & depression. I am equally comfortable working with individuals and couples. It is my belief that you are the expert of your story and that you have many strengths that will assist you in overcoming things that challenge you. Taking the first step to seeking a more fulfilling and happier life takes courage. I am here to support you in that process. Finally, therapy is a two-way street as I believe it is advisable to do a "check in" with clients as to how I am doing in the work we are engaged in and receive feedback. The process of therapy is a joint effort and it is vital that you as a client (or couple) not only feel heard but that therapy is progressing and assisting you in making change in your life. Thank you.

People look to therapy to either resolve what is bothersome in life and/or to get to a place where they feel more joy and freedom - I do not lose sight that we all operate similarly and we try to adapt my role as a therapist to the needs of the people I work with in therapy. My primary therapeutic orientation is Client-Centered Therapy. In professional terms, I tend to be eclectic in approach as I draw on cognitive-behavioral, Jungian/insight oriented, Solution-Focused therapies and utilize a combination of systemic and Gottman methodologies in working with families and couples.

My hope is that people working with me in therapy will feel respected, honored, and validated in their humanity as well as the struggles that can be a part of life. I work to instill hope as we form a way, direction, map in which to approach in a different manner that leads to greater life satisfaction...joy and freedom. Those in need that work with me will know I am interested and care about their lives as I am highly participative in style.