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LCSW

Wayland Smith, LCSW

  • Experience38 years
  • LocationIllinois
  • Focus areasADHD, Stress and Anxiety, and Addictions
  • LanguagesEnglish
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About Wayland

Wayland Smith is an Illinois-licensed LCSW with 38 years of clinical experience who focuses on helping people manage stress, anxiety, addictions, mood disorders and relationship difficulties.

Background and approach

He centers his work on the idea that each person understands their own life best and brings strengths that can be mobilized to address painful patterns, trauma, grief and intimacy-related concerns. His background includes long-term practice with clients facing bipolar disorder, substance and process addictions, parenting and blended-family challenges, and complicated grief and life transitions.

Smith approaches conversations with respect for the client’s perspective and encourages practical strategies alongside personal exploration. He also brings attention to issues such as self-esteem, anger, communication problems, co-morbidity, and seasonal mood changes, while remaining attentive to concerns that arise with aging, fatherhood, dependent personality patterns, and veteran-related matters.

He accepts international clients and offers sessions in English, helping people find ways to cope with change, rebuild relationships, and pursue clearer direction and self-love.

Practical Approaches and Remote Care

Many of his sessions draw on evidence-based techniques that blend skill-building with insight-oriented work. One common approach focuses on stress and anxiety management through practical tools - teaching strategies to reduce overwhelm, regulate emotions, and improve daily functioning. Another often-used method targets addictive behaviors and co-occurring mood issues by helping clients identify triggers, build coping plans, and strengthen relapse prevention skills.

Finding the right combination of techniques is treated as a collaborative process. The therapist works with each person to identify goals, test approaches, and adjust the plan based on what fits the client’s needs and preferences rather than applying a one-size-fits-all model.

Online therapy with him uses video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to increase flexibility and accessibility. These options make it easier to fit sessions into busy schedules, maintain continuity during life transitions, and connect from different locations, including internationally. Licensed professionals guide the process and adapt interventions so remote work can be both practical and focused on meaningful change.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does this therapist commonly address?
Wayland Smith works with a broad range of concerns including stress, anxiety, addictions, bipolar disorder, depression, relationship and intimacy issues, trauma and grief, parenting challenges, ADHD, and related life changes.
What is his general therapeutic style?
He emphasizes the client’s own expertise about their life and combines practical strategies with reflective conversation to build on strengths and reduce unhelpful patterns.
How much clinical experience does he have?
He brings 38 years of professional work experience to his practice, developed across multiple settings and with diverse presenting concerns.
What credentials and location apply to this therapist?
He holds the credential LCSW and is licensed in Illinois with license number IL LCSW 149004102.
Can someone who lives outside the United States work with him?
He accepts international clients and conducts sessions in English for people connecting from other countries.
Which session formats are offered for remote work?
Available session formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to accommodate different communication preferences.
How are fees and billing handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions are provided through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What should someone do to begin working with him?
To get started, 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, AnxietyAddictionsFamily conflictsBipolar disorderDepression

Also works with

Relationship issuesTrauma and abuseGriefIntimacy-related issuesParenting issuesAnger managementSelf esteemCoping with life changesADHD

Additional focus areas

Aging and geriatric issuesBlended family issuesCo-morbidityCodependencyCommunication problemsDependent personalityFatherhood issuesForgivenessIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesPersonality disordersProcess addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-love

Experience

38+ years

Licensed

Illinois

Languages

English