Shannon Smith

I’m a Caribbean American therapist who believes therapy should feel like a space where you can truly be yourself. I work with individuals navigating depression, anxiety, stress, family conflict, low self-esteem, and major life transitions, while helping them feel more confident, connected, and grounded in who they are.

I especially enjoy working with women and young adults who may be struggling with social anxiety, isolation, guilt, shame, body image concerns, or simply feeling stuck. Together, we can work on building self-love, strengthening communication, creating healthier relationships, and developing a deeper understanding of yourself.

I also support clients working through attachment concerns, fears of abandonment, caregiver stress, forgiveness, and questions around identity and life purpose. Sometimes you may know exactly what you want to work on, and other times you may just know that something doesn’t feel right. Either way, we can figure it out together.

As a Caribbean American therapist, I bring a multicultural perspective into the therapy room and understand how culture, family expectations, relationships, and personal identity can shape the way we experience life. My approach is warm, genuine, supportive, and collaborative. I want you to feel heard, understood, and comfortable enough to show up as your full self without judgment.

Starting therapy can feel intimidating, but you don’t have to have everything figured out before you begin. I’ll meet you where you are, and we’ll take it from there.

My approach to therapy is warm, supportive, and collaborative. I believe therapy should be a space where you feel comfortable being yourself, without judgment or pressure to have everything figured out.

I meet clients where they are and work with them to better understand their emotions, patterns, relationships, and life experiences. My style is compassionate but also honest and practical. I want clients to not only feel heard, but to leave therapy with greater self-awareness, healthier coping skills, stronger communication, and tools they can actually use in their everyday lives.

I work with individuals experiencing anxiety, depression, stress, low self-esteem, family conflict, social anxiety, attachment concerns, abandonment fears, caregiver stress, body image concerns, and major life transitions. I especially enjoy supporting women and young adults as they work toward self-love, confidence, healthier relationships, and a stronger sense of identity and purpose.

As a Caribbean American therapist, I also bring a multicultural perspective to my work and understand how culture, family expectations, identity, and relationships can impact our mental health. Therapy with me is a partnership, and we will work together at a pace that feels right for you.

What to Expect in Your First Session

Starting therapy can feel like a big step, and it's normal to feel unsure about what the first session will look like. Here's a general idea of what we'll cover together:

Getting Comfortable We'll start by going over confidentiality, how sessions work, and any logistical details (scheduling, fees, cancellation policy). This is also a great time to ask any questions you have about the process.

Getting to Know You This is your time to share what's bringing you to therapy right now, whether that's anxiety, relationship stress, family pressures, feeling stuck, or anything else on your mind. We'll also talk a bit about your background and what (if anything) you've tried before to cope or find support.

Talking About Your Goals Together, we'll start to explore what you'd like to get out of therapy, what "feeling better" looks like for you, and what you'd like to focus on first.

A Sense of Direction By the end of the session, you'll have a general sense of where we're headed and what ongoing sessions might look like. My approach draws on CBT, ACT, narrative therapy, attachment-based work, and somatic techniques so we'll tailor the path forward to what fits you best.

There's no pressure to have everything figured out before we start. This first session is simply a space for you to be heard, and for us to begin building a plan together.