Cathy Smith

Cathy Smith began her professional journey with undergraduate degrees in Sociology with a focus on Criminology and in Spanish. Her work in a residential treatment home for youth with emotional and mental illnesses inspired a deeper interest in psychology and counseling.

After starting a family, she returned to school to earn a teaching certificate and a master’s degree in Special Education. Many years of teaching followed in institutional, public, private, and alternative education settings. Wanting more time to listen to and engage with individuals one-on-one, she went back to the university to complete a master’s degree in Counseling Psychology.

Following that training, Cathy earned credentials to practice as a Limited License Psychologist and later became a Licensed Professional Counselor in Michigan. Over an 18-year career she has developed a collaborative, strength-based approach that emphasizes building on each person’s resources to support healthier, more satisfying lives.

She works with people across the lifespan - clients she has seen range in age from four to seventy-nine - and assists with concerns such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, grief, trauma, sexual and physical abuse, parenting difficulties, learning disabilities, and autism spectrum challenges. Cathy tailors therapy to each client’s goals using tools like motivational interviewing, client-centered and solution-focused techniques, psychoeducation, mindfulness practices, and cognitive behavioral therapy, selecting approaches that best fit the individual’s needs.

Located in Michigan, Cathy Smith brings a professional yet approachable style rooted in years of experience in both education and clinical settings, aiming to partner with clients as they work toward greater well-being.