Dr. Chaka Smith

I believe therapy should be a space where you feel heard, respected, supported, and safe enough to be honest about what you are experiencing. My approach to therapy is warm, collaborative, and nonjudgmental. I recognize that every person comes to therapy with a unique story, and I do not believe in a one-size-fits-all approach to healing.

As a Licensed Professional Counselor, I use a trauma-informed, client-centered, and solution-focused approach to therapy. This means that while I bring my professional knowledge and experience into the therapeutic relationship, I also recognize that you are the expert on your own life. My role is not to tell you what to do, but to work alongside you as we identify what is happening, explore the experiences and patterns that may be contributing to your concerns, and develop practical strategies to help you move forward.

I believe strongly in involving clients in every aspect of their treatment. We will develop your treatment plan together, identify goals that are meaningful and realistic for you, and regularly discuss your progress. Therapy should never feel like something that is simply being done to you. It should be a partnership in which you have a voice in where we are going and how we get there.

My trauma-informed approach also means that I am mindful of how past experiences can influence the way we think, feel, communicate, respond to stress, and navigate relationships today. Rather than asking, “What is wrong with you?” I am interested in understanding what you have experienced, how you learned to cope, what has helped you survive difficult seasons, and what you may need now to heal and grow.

At the same time, I believe therapy should provide more than insight. Understanding why something is happening is important, but I also want to help you determine what you can do next. Using solution-focused techniques, we can identify your strengths, build on what is already working, develop healthier coping and communication skills, establish boundaries when needed, and create achievable steps toward the life you want.

I have worked in the mental health field for more than two decades and have had the privilege of supporting individuals through many different seasons of life. I earned my bachelor's degree in Psychology from Winthrop University, my master's degree in Counseling from Webster University, and a PhD in General Psychology with a specialization in Education. I became a Licensed Professional Counselor in 2008 and opened my private practice, Mainstream Therapeutic Services, LLC, in 2011.

Even with years of education and experience, I never want clients to feel as though they are sitting across from someone who is simply analyzing them. I want you to feel that you are talking with someone who is genuinely listening, helping you make connections, challenging you when appropriate, celebrating your progress, and providing you with tools that you can actually use outside of the therapy session.

You do not have to have everything figured out before beginning therapy. We can start exactly where you are and work together from there.