Therapist profile
Dr. Shawanda Woods-Smith, LA Psychologist 1298
LA psychologist - Family and parenting related concerns
Continue with ShawandaAbout
- Client-centered work
- Cognitive behavioral tools
- Mindfulness practices
About Shawanda
Dr. Shawanda Woods-Smith is a Louisiana psychologist with 16 years of experience. She works with adults who are dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship strain, parenting challenges, grief, and other life changes. She also addresses concerns such as addiction, bipolar symptoms, ADHD, and issues connected to family dynamics.
Shawanda uses straightforward, practical methods in sessions. She leans on client-centered work that keeps the person's goals front and center. Cognitive behavioral techniques are used to identify patterns of thinking and behavior that get in the way of coping. Mindfulness and solution-focused strategies are used for short-term skill building and clearer next steps.
Her background includes longstanding practice in Louisiana and a focus on helping people manage day-to-day household and relationship stresses. She offers psychoeducation about how development, biology, and social or cultural factors affect mood and behavior. That often helps people make sense of painful reactions and decide what to try next.
In sessions she talks through concrete skills for communication, managing anger, setting boundaries, and handling caregiver strain. She also supports people facing divorce, blended family adjustments, immigration concerns, or hospice and end-of-life stressors. The work is collaborative and oriented toward practical change.
People who choose her often want clear strategies they can practice between sessions. She helps set specific goals, tracks progress, and adjusts plans when something isn’t working. To start, she asks about current concerns and what the person hopes to change.
How sessions work
How her approaches translate to online work
Client-centered therapy focuses on the person's goals and experience. Online sessions using this approach start with what the client wants to change and follow their pace. Cognitive behavioral therapy helps identify unhelpful thoughts and behaviors and replace them with practical skills. In an online session this often means reviewing examples from home life, trying short behavioral experiments, and assigning small between-session practices.Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist and client decide together which strategies to try first based on needs, goals, and what fits into daily life. Plans are revisited and adjusted if a method does not feel useful or practical.
The original profile did not list specific session formats, so confirm available formats before booking. Many people find online sessions helpful for fitting therapy into busy schedules, shortening commute time, or keeping check-ins brief when needed. Ask about current options to see how sessions can be scheduled around work, caregiving, and other household demands.
Areas of focus
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
16+ years
Listed in
Louisiana
Languages
English
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship strain, parenting problems, grief, addiction, ADHD, and related family issues.
What is her therapeutic style?
Her approach is practical and collaborative, using client-centered methods, CBT, mindfulness, motivational interviewing, and solution-focused techniques to set goals and build skills.
How much experience does she have?
She has 16 years of clinical experience providing care to adults on a range of concerns.
What are her credentials and location?
She is listed as LA Psychologist 1298 and practices in Louisiana.
Does she offer sessions in other languages or internationally?
Sessions are offered in English and she is not accepting international clients at this time.
What formats are offered for sessions?
The original profile did not specify session formats; please confirm current session options before booking.
How are costs handled?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I get started?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If anyone is in danger, use the crisis numbers.