Bobbi Smith, LICSWA (they/them)

“Everything you’ve lost is enough space for your wholeness to return into.”
-Shelby Handler

You might be ready for a change, but the unfamiliar feels scary and you’re feeling frozen. You might be struggling with bad memories, but worry that addressing them might mean you have to relive them. You might really want to express your needs, but you don’t know how to say it or feel shut down.

When I started therapy as a client years ago, my thoughts were: how will I tell a stranger about my personal life? What if they’re secretly judging me? Can I be helped? What if there’s just something wrong with me? These thoughts about therapy are totally normal. We will go at your pace in this process, I won’t judge you, and believe that there is nothing wrong with you.

My therapy style is gentle, contemplative, and direct, while also bringing humor into the space From the start, we will explore together what you need from therapy and how to make the process feel less like a tidal wave and more like a stream. Together, we will identify your strengths, explore your values, and identify what makes you uniquely you.

My approach to therapy

I work individually with adults and youth (16+) for both in person and virtual sessions. I draw from various types of therapy: mindfulness based, CBT, DBT, Somatic Experiencing, person centered and Existential. I pay special attention to how systems of oppression (racism, homophobia, transphobia, classism, ableism, sanism, anti-Semitism and more) impact how the world treats you. We can blend this into therapy as much or as little as you feel comfortable with. The techniques I use will always be based on your particular needs- there’s no one size fits all for therapy.

We might be a good fit if:

● You want to improve your side of relationships (could be with friends, family, lovers, coworkers, or more);

● You sense you are on the verge of a new iteration of yourself, and need support navigating the waters of becoming;

● You like or would like to work with a therapist with a contemplative and direct style;

● You are seeking a queer or non binary therapist;

● You would like to try somatic therapy to treat trauma;

● You value the process as much as the outcomes.