LPC-MH

Shanua Smith, LPC-MH

Experience19 years
LocationSouth Dakota
Focus areasADHD, Stress and Anxiety, and Relationship
Therapy approachesClient-Centered Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Check the available next steps for working with Shanua online.

About Shanua

Shanua Smith is a licensed professional counselor (LPC-MH) practicing in South Dakota with 19 years of clinical experience supporting people through a wide range of emotional and life challenges.

Background and approach

She works with concerns including depression, anxiety, trauma and abuse, relationship and intimacy-related issues, grief, addictions, ADHD, bipolar symptoms, and stress-related difficulties, along with eating and sleeping problems and career or parenting stressors. Her style emphasizes compassion and a nonjudgmental stance, creating a space where clients can explore feelings, attachment patterns, and communication challenges.

Shanua integrates evidence-based methods into a personalized plan, drawing from Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), EMDR, Motivational Interviewing, and trauma-focused approaches to address both symptoms and underlying dynamics. The goal of her work is practical and relational: to help clients build resilience, improve self-understanding, and develop concrete strategies for coping with life changes and setbacks.

Shanua aims to partner with clients to set achievable goals, strengthen emotional regulation, and support deeper healing and growth over time.

Approaches that translate well to online care

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on creating a supportive, empathetic space where the client's goals and perspectives guide the work; it helps people clarify values, feel heard, and build self-directed change. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a practical, skills-based approach that identifies unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns and teaches tools for managing symptoms like anxiety, depression, and stress. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a trauma-focused method that helps process distressing memories through structured recall and bilateral stimulation; it is often used when past events continue to cause emotional or physiological reactions.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will explore the client's needs, goals, and preferences and then recommend techniques or a blend of methods that fit the situation. Clients are invited to discuss what feels most useful and to adjust the plan as therapy progresses.

Online sessions are offered via video calls, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to provide scheduling flexibility and easier access from home or work. These formats allow for regular check-ins, skills practice between sessions, and continuity of care when in-person meetings are not possible, supporting steady progress across goals.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of concerns does this therapist address?

The practice supports a broad range of challenges including stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, relationship and intimacy issues, grief, addictions, ADHD, bipolar concerns, eating and sleeping difficulties, and career or parenting stress.

How would you describe the therapeutic style?

The clinician emphasizes a compassionate, nonjudgmental approach that centers the client's experience and tailors interventions to individual needs using evidence-based techniques.

What is the therapist's background and experience?

She has 19 years of experience practicing in South Dakota and has worked with diverse emotional and life challenges across that time.

What credentials and location are associated with this therapist?

She holds the LPC-MH credential with license SD LPC-MH 30699 and provides services from South Dakota.

Are sessions available in other languages or internationally?

Sessions are offered in English and the therapist is not currently accepting international clients.

Which session formats are offered for online work?

Clients can choose video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging depending on preference and scheduling.

How are costs and payment handled?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

What steps are required to begin therapy?

To start, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesTrauma and abuse Grief Depression

Also works with

AddictionsFamily conflictsIntimacy-related issuesEating disordersSleeping disordersParenting issuesAnger managementSelf esteemCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCoping with life changesCoachingCompassion fatigueADHD

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAttachment issues Autism and Asperger Syndrome Body imageCancerCaregiver issues and stressCommunication problemsControl issuesCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDissociationDivorce and separationDomestic violenceEmptinessForgivenessGuilt and shameHospice and end-of-life counselingImpulsivity Isolation / loneliness Life purposeMidlife crisisMood disorders Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD Panic disorder and panic attacksPersonality disordersPost-traumatic stressSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-loveSexual assault and abuseSocial anxiety and phobiaWomen's issuesWorkplace issues

Therapeutic approaches

Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)Motivational InterviewingTrauma-Focused Therapy

Experience

19+ years

Licensed

South Dakota

Languages

English