Shannon Smith

I know how hard it can be to find a therapist with which you can connect. I am hoping this profile gives you a preview of how you and I can work together so that you can live a more authentic and meaningful life.

I have over 25 years of experience helping people who struggle with anxiety, depression, and substance use. I have worked in various settings and within different levels of care throughout my career. I have worked in inpatient psychiatric hospitals, partial hospitalization programs/intensive outpatient programs, outpatient therapy, and as an Employee Assistance Counselor. I have also served as a leader managing behavioral health services for a large community hospital. I obtained my Bachelor's in Science from Bradley University in 1999 and a Master's in Social Work from Loyola University Chicago in 2001. I am also a Certified and Alcohol and other Drug Counselor in the state of Illinois.

I am looking forward to connecting with you and supporting you along your journey to better understand yourself and how you relate to the world around you.

My niche is working with people who identify as LGBTQIA+ and I am an ally to the BIPOC community. I enjoy working with young adults and adults. I like working with people who are going through difficult life transitions and are interested in fostering their confidence and resiliency.

My style is to build connections based on mutual trust. I am empathetic, warm, humorous, and honest. Sessions with me are meant to be a collaborative and safe space for you to explore who you are and learn new skills.

I am a strong advocate for people who are a part of the LGBTQIA+ Community and an ally of the BIPOC Community. I am a strong believer in equality and social justice. My goal as a therapist is to create a space where people who have felt or have been marginalized can come to work on better understanding themselves and their worth. My life's mission is to empower people to live a more authentic and meaningful life through therapy.

In our first session together, we’ll start off with brief introductions and a review of logistics for our work together (review of confidentiality, scheduling. Communication, etc.) and then I will ask you to begin sharing with me what specific challenges/transitions you are facing that brought you to therapy. I will guide our conversation by asking questions to better understand your concerns and level of impact so that I can be as helpful to you as possible. You and I will end the first appointment by identifying goals for you to work towards during our future appointments together.