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, which stands for Licensed Professional Counselor - Mental Health, and brings a long-standing commitment to helping people manage depression, anxiety, trauma, relationship difficulties, and major life transitions.

Her work emphasizes a compassionate, non-judgmental environment where individuals can explore their thoughts and emotions at their own pace. She draws from evidence-based methods to create personalized plans that address concerns such as self-esteem, communication challenges, social anxiety, grief, and ongoing personal growth.

Shanua focuses on empowering people to better understand their experiences, strengthen resilience, and develop healthier emotional habits. Whether addressing workplace stress, relationship strains, or the desire for deeper self-understanding, she combines professional expertise with empathy to support practical strategies for change and healing.

Clients can expect an approach that is holistic and tailored to each person’s needs, integrating clinical tools with compassionate guidance to help navigate difficult moments and build toward more balanced functioning.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care with Shanua Smith

Shanua Smith uses client-centered therapy to create a respectful, collaborative space where the client's perspective guides the work. This approach helps people feel heard and supports efforts to explore values, strengths, and goals. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns and is often used for anxiety, depression, and stress-related concerns. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, known as EMDR, is a trauma-focused method that helps people process distressing memories and reduce their emotional intensity.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Shanua works collaboratively with each person to determine which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences, and adapts the plan as progress and priorities evolve.

Offering sessions by video call, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging makes it easier to fit therapy into a busy life and to maintain continuity when schedules or circumstances change. These options provide flexibility and accessibility, allowing people to engage in consistent care from locations that work best for them while working with a licensed professional.