Dr. Avis Smith , LPC

Dr. Avis Smith is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) based in Texas with a doctoral degree from Texas Southern University, a master's degree from the University of Houston-Victoria, and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Houston. With 15 years of experience in the mental health field, she has provided care across educational, outpatient, residential, and in-home settings, helping people navigate stress, anxiety, relationship concerns, trauma and abuse, life transitions, and many other challenges.

She practices with an eclectic orientation, drawing from multiple theories to tailor treatment to each person’s needs, and most commonly uses a solution-focused approach that emphasizes present strengths and realistic, achievable goals. Her style is supportive and collaborative - she partners with clients to define goals and develop practical strategies for coping, communication, and healing. Areas of focus include family and parenting issues, self-esteem and self-love, intimacy and relationship concerns, blended family dynamics, attachment issues, compassion fatigue, and challenges faced by young adults and women.

Dr. Smith believes that taking care of one’s mental health is foundational to being able to show up for others, and she works to create a comfortable, goal-oriented environment where clients can reclaim balance and resilience. Dr. Smith is not currently accepting clients.

Solution-Focused Support and Online Care

Dr. Smith commonly uses solution-focused therapy, a short-term, goal-oriented approach that concentrates on clients’ strengths and practical steps they can take now to move toward better functioning. This approach is useful for addressing stress, anxiety, life transitions, and relationship concerns by setting realistic, measurable goals and building on what already works.

She also takes an eclectic approach, blending techniques from different theories to fit each person’s situation. That flexible stance lets her tailor sessions to issues like family conflict, parenting challenges, self-esteem, trauma recovery, and coping with major life changes, while keeping the work grounded in the client’s immediate needs and priorities.

Finding the right therapeutic style is part of the process, and Dr. Smith works collaboratively with clients to identify which methods feel most helpful based on their goals and preferences. Online sessions - including video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging - offer practical benefits by making therapy more accessible and easier to fit into busy schedules. These options provide flexibility for scheduling, allow ongoing support between appointments, and help people receive consistent care from licensed professionals regardless of location.