Licensed clinical social worker recordTexas
Credentials check
- Credentials
- LCSW
- Licensed in Oklahoma
- LCSW, licence 21385
- Licensed in Texas
- LCSW, licence 118354
- NPI
- 1316691678
- Experience
- 4 years
- Languages
- English
- Location
- Texas
These details come from information Paula supplied to BetterHelp. A licence can be checked with the social work board of the state that issued it, and an NPI with the national registry.
AAbout
- CBT methods
- DBT skills
- Mindfulness practices
About Paula
Paula Smith is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) licensed in Texas and Oklahoma with four years of clinical experience. She focuses on stress, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, addictions, grief, relationship concerns, self-esteem, trauma and LGBT-related issues. She offers practical, direct work that helps people get clearer about what is causing distress and what to try next.
Paula uses a mix of approaches to match the situation. That includes cognitive behavioral work to spot unhelpful thinking patterns and DBT skills for emotion regulation. She blends mindfulness and motivational interviewing when people need tools to manage strong feelings and to find motivation for change.
Sessions are straightforward and goal-oriented. Paula helps people set short-term steps they can practice between meetings. She also addresses longer standing patterns like attachment styles, control issues, codependency, and communication problems that affect relationships and daily functioning.
She also supports people dealing with chronic pain, illness, caregiving stress, aging concerns, and the overlapping issues that come with co-morbidity. Work often includes concrete problem solving for work and family stress, handling separation or divorce logistics, and substance use questions.
Paula offers care informed by cultural humility and attention to identity, especially for LGBT clients. She focuses on what people can do differently now, helping with forgiveness, remorse, and rebuilding routines after loss or major life change.
BHow sessions work
Therapeutic approaches used in online work
Paula commonly uses cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy in her practice. Cognitive behavioral therapy focuses on identifying patterns of thinking and behavior that contribute to stress and depression, then practicing new actions and thoughts to reduce symptoms. Dialectical behavior therapy teaches practical skills for managing intense emotions, improving interpersonal effectiveness, and tolerating distress in crises.She also draws on mindfulness techniques to help clients notice present-moment experience without judgment and on motivational interviewing to support changes people want to make. Choosing an approach is collaborative - the therapist and client review needs, goals, and preferences and try methods that fit the situation.
Confirm the current session formats before booking because the biography does not list specific delivery methods. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into busy schedules, shorten travel time, and allow brief check-ins when a full in-person visit is difficult. They also let people use techniques like guided mindfulness or skills coaching in the moment, and work can be adjusted to match a client's daily routine and bandwidth.
CAreas of focus
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
4+ years
Listed in
Oklahoma, Texas
Languages
English
DQuestions
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she help with?
Paula works with stress, anxiety, depression, bipolar challenges, addictions, trauma and LGBT-related issues, plus grief and self-esteem problems.
How does she approach therapy?
She combines practical methods such as cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy with mindfulness and motivational interviewing to teach coping skills and promote behavioral change.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has four years of professional experience working with adults on mood, trauma, and identity-related concerns.
What are her credentials and where is she licensed?
She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and holds licensure in Texas and Oklahoma.
Does she offer sessions in other languages or to international clients?
Sessions are offered in English. She is not accepting international clients at this time.
What session formats are offered?
Please confirm current session options before booking, as the biography does not list specific session formats.
How much do sessions cost?
Cost varies with location. Sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Choose the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session to get started.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger, call 911, or call or text 988. More crisis numbers