Grief is in two. parts. The first is loss. The second is the remaking of life.
-Anne Rolphe-
Cassandra M. Smith, MA, LCMHC
Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor
&
Certified Grief Professional
Specializing in grief and loss support for adults (in-person Raleigh + telehealth across NC)
Through counseling, I have witnessed and personally experienced empowerment through renewed strength when weary and renewed hope in despair. My introduction to counseling started well before becoming a clinician. After my husband’s sudden and tragic death, I experienced unimaginable challenges as a grieving widow raising five young children. Through a series of existential and spiritual battles, I came to know the power of faith and the power of choice. Though life was not always kind, what I chose to believe along the journey made all the difference in whether my family survived, or lived beyond surviving and thrived.
Now with over 14 years of counseling experience, I serve those who, rather than being controlled by their circumstances, choose to take control and overcome them. Presently, I work with adults and specialize in grief and loss. I also offer support for those dealing with trauma, anxiety, depression, life transitions, crisis of faith, self-worth, and self-esteem concerns. I consider it a privilege to journey with others through times when hope may be difficult to grasp and a way forward may be overshadowed by the pains of life and loss.
On a lighter note, I’m pretty laid back. I love relaxing with a good movie and some buttery popcorn. I am an “avid reader wanna-be”. Road-trips are always fun, particularly when I’m not the driver. I am a true believer that birthdays are special and should be seriously celebrated. My favorite holidays are Christmas and Mother’s Day (Yes, Mother’s Day is a holiday for me but not so much for my kids!). While I certainly enjoy spending time with friends, one-on-one is more my thing these days. My most favorite thing to do is hanging out with my wonderful children.
My Approach
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Counseling Style
Because I acknowledge each person’s uniqueness, I will meet you with a person-centered approach. I offer a warm and affirming style of support to assist you in exploring your needs and pursuing counseling goals. I utilize talk therapy drawing from theories that include but are not limited to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Dialectical and Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Solution Focused Therapy (SFT), and the Internal Family Systems (IFS) approach. (Click the links if you are interested in learning more about these approaches). I offer faith based counseling upon request.
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Counseling Relationship
You are the expert on you. I will not tell you how to live but will be your partner in discovering what works best for you as you pursue your goals. I will work hard for you, but your empowerment does not come if I work harder than you. Because this work is collaborative, the therapeutic relationship is of great importance. If at any point you have concerns about this relationship, you have every right to make that known. If we determine that you and I are not a good fit, I will offer resources to support you in finding someone else to work with.
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Counseling Sessions
The first session will be information gathering through an intake assessment. The more history you can provide, the better informed we will be when developing a plan of care that will meet your needs. The following sessions will be times for you to process concerns and learn and implement strategies to work through them. We will not only address surface symptoms that have led you to seek help; we will work to identify, explore, challenge, and, when needed, rebuild the core of what drives your symptoms.
