Dr. Shawanda Woods-Smith, LA Psychologist 1298

Dr. Shawanda Woods-Smith welcomes people who feel stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure where to begin. She writes plainly and listens closely so clients can talk through stressful moments and make steady changes. Dr. Woods-Smith is a Louisiana licensed psychologist (LA Psychologist 1298) with 16 years of experience, and she approaches sessions with a calm, practical focus.

She helps people facing anxiety, depression, relationship strain, grief, parenting challenges, and career stress. She also works with concerns such as addiction, intimacy questions, ADHD, and issues tied to family of origin and blended families. Her background includes supporting people through divorce and separation, caregiver stress, immigration-related challenges, and end-of-life or hospice concerns.

In therapy she uses client-centered methods to build trust and make space for each person to set goals. She pairs that with cognitive behavioral techniques to notice unhelpful thinking and try new behaviors. Solution-focused ideas help keep sessions goal-oriented and practical.

Sessions often include straightforward psychoeducation about how feelings, biology, and social factors interact. The work is collaborative - she and the client prioritize what to try next and check progress together. Her style aims to leave people with clearer tools for everyday life.

Dr. Woods-Smith frames therapy as a process of small steps and steady adjustments. She invites people who want practical help and emotional support to explore what a healthier balance might look like.

Approaches you might use in online sessions

Client-centered therapy focuses on the person in front of the therapist. It creates space to be heard and to choose goals that matter to the client. This approach helps when people need support to sort out feelings and priorities.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) looks at patterns of thinking and behavior that get in the way. It uses practical exercises and small experiments to test different ways of thinking and acting, which can help with anxiety, depression, and stress.

Solution-focused ideas keep work short-term and goal-directed. Sessions often emphasize the next concrete step the client can try between meetings to see what changes.

Choosing the right mix of methods is part of the work together. The therapist will talk with the client about their goals and preferences, and then try approaches that fit. Progress is checked along the way and the plan is adjusted as needed.

The biography does not list which specific session formats are offered online. Please confirm the available session options before booking. Online therapy can make it easier to fit meetings into a busy schedule, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time for appointments.