Liz Smith

I am a client-centered, trauma-informed psychotherapist who believes that therapy should be a place where you can be fully yourself without judgment. My role is not to tell you how to live your life, but to help you better understand yourself, process what you have experienced, and make decisions that feel right for you.

I earned my Master of Science in Clinical and Counseling Psychology from Capella University and am licensed as a psychotherapist in Florida, Montana, and Utah. I am also a Licensed Addiction Counselor in Montana and a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional. I provide therapy in both English and Spanish.

Much of my work focuses on trauma and PTSD, LGBTQ+ concerns, gender identity, family rejection, religious trauma, domestic and sexual violence, borderline personality disorder, anxiety, and substance use or other addictive behaviors. I have worked extensively with LGBTQ+ clients and have spent more than a decade advocating for gender and sexual minority communities.

My primary orientation is person-centered therapy. I believe one of the most powerful parts of therapy is having a space where you feel genuinely heard, respected, and accepted. We will work collaboratively, and I will meet you where you are rather than trying to force you into a particular model or timeline.

Depending on your needs, I integrate EMDR, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Gestalt techniques, Motivational Interviewing, and other trauma-focused and strength-based approaches. I am particularly comfortable providing EMDR through telehealth and regularly use it in my trauma work.

Therapy with me can include exploring emotions and patterns in the present, developing practical coping and regulation skills, processing traumatic experiences, and helping you move toward the life and relationships you want. At the center of all of it, however, is you—the client—and what you need from therapy.

Your first session is primarily an opportunity for us to get to know one another. I will want to understand what brought you to therapy, what has been happening in your life, what you would like to change, and what you hope therapy can help you accomplish.

You do not need to arrive with everything figured out, and you will not be expected to tell your entire story in one session. We will move at a pace that feels manageable for you. I may ask questions about your history, relationships, symptoms, strengths, and previous experiences with therapy, while also giving you plenty of space to tell me what feels important.

We will begin discussing possible goals and treatment approaches together, and you will have an opportunity to ask questions about me, the therapy process, EMDR, or anything else you are unsure about. My goal is for you to leave that first meeting with a clearer sense of what working together might look like and, most importantly, whether you feel comfortable with me as your therapist.