Shanua Smith , LPC-MH

Shanua Smith is a licensed therapist practicing in South Dakota with 19 years of clinical experience. She holds the LPC-MH credential - Licensed Professional Counselor - Mental Health - and focuses on guiding people through complex emotional challenges such as depression, anxiety, trauma, relationship difficulties, and major life transitions.

Her work is grounded in a compassionate, non-judgmental approach that invites clients to explore their inner world and build practical, personalized strategies for healing. Drawing on evidence-based methods, she addresses concerns including self-love, communication barriers, social anxiety, grief, and goals for personal growth while tailoring interventions to each person’s circumstances.

Shanua emphasizes empowerment and resilience, helping clients make sense of their experiences and develop healthier emotional patterns. Whether someone is managing workplace stress, navigating relationship struggles, or seeking deeper self-understanding, she brings steady professional expertise and empathetic support throughout the therapeutic process.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Shanua Smith integrates client-centered therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy to guide work in online sessions. Client-centered therapy emphasizes a warm, collaborative relationship where the therapist follows the client's lead and supports self-discovery - it is helpful for issues like low self-esteem, relational concerns, and processing life transitions. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying and shifting unhelpful thoughts and behaviors and is often used for anxiety, depression, and stress-related problems. She also uses EMDR when appropriate - a trauma-focused approach that helps people process distressing memories and reduce their ongoing impact.

Choosing the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Licensed professionals and therapists often tailor methods to each person's needs, and Shanua works collaboratively with clients to determine which techniques best match their goals, preferences, and situation.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility - sessions can occur by video call, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to fit varying schedules and comfort levels. This range of options makes it easier to maintain regular sessions, access support from home, and continue progress even when life gets busy.