Mika Smith, LPC

Background and Clinical Approach

I work great with…

Young adults and adults who care deeply about others but struggle to give themselves the same amount of compassion. You are already taking the first step toward caring for yourself by looking into therapy! YAY. In session, we will explore what’s getting in your way of having more self-love and self-respect.  

Students. I especially enjoy working with college and graduate students in counseling or helping professions who are navigating academic pressure, identity development, and the transition into adulthood and professional roles. You may feel burnt out, question if you’re “good enough,” and struggle to balance school, work, and relationships while figuring out your identity and direction.

Depression and anxiety. You may find yourself feeling unmotivated to do things you once enjoyed, feeling on edge and anxious, or wishing you could feel calmer and more at ease in your body. Together, we will identify your values and uncover what truly makes life feel meaningful for you. We will also discover what may be contributing to your anxiety, look at the coping strategies you’ve been relying on, and work together to develop new skills that feel more aligned with your goals.

Low self-esteem. You feel like you have lost yourself along the way, but don’t know how. You once felt confident and proud of yourself, but now you have a lot of self-doubt. We will work on building stronger communication skills and exploring patterns in your behavior through behavior chain analyses. You are allowed to take up space and express your needs openly, in ways that feel safe, authentic, and true to who you are.

Not in crisis, but wanting to feel more “alive.” You are looking for a little more “umph” and meaning in life. You want to feel more like yourself, have more emotional resilience, and be connected to yourself and others. If this sounds like you, please reach out so we can connect. I’d like to get to know you and explore how we can bring more hope into your life!

Style & Approach

I am a queer-affirming therapist and a member of the queer community, identifying as a later-in-life lesbian. My goal is to create a space that is safe, warm, non-judgmental, and collaborative. I enjoy building the therapeutic relationship so you feel comfortable coming to therapy and doing the work. My approach is kind, supportive, and challenging – gently asking those hard questions when needed.

Together, we explore how past experiences, beliefs about yourself, and relationship patterns may be shaping your current struggles. From there, we focus on developing practical tools to support lasting change, such as improving self-esteem, learning how to set healthy boundaries, regulating difficult emotions, and communicating more confidently with others.

My foundational approach is Person-Centered, Relational, and Trauma-Informed. I incorporate evidence-based interventions, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).

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Education & Training

Bachelor of Arts - University of Texas at Austin
Master of Arts - Professional Counseling - University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
Licensed Professional Counselor 
Clinical experience across partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, community mental health, and outpatient settings 

Outside of my professional work, I love spending time with my wife and our three dogs, thrifting with friends, playing with my small nephew, and trying new bakeries and coffee shops!