RS Portrait of Dr. Rita Smith

Dr. Rita Smith, MD, LCPC, LPC

Calm, practical therapy for anxious moments

25 years in practice · based in Georgia · sessions in English · online sessions

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About Rita

Dr. Rita Smith is a Georgia-based clinician who blends client-centered care with practical strategies. She brings 25 years of experience and works with people facing stress, anxiety, relationship strain, and career concerns.

Her style is straightforward and focused on small, doable steps. She begins by listening to what matters most and making a plan together. That plan often includes techniques from cognitive behavioral therapy to identify unhelpful thoughts and test new behaviors.

Explore online therapy options See what online therapy involves and what your next steps would be.

Background and approach

Mindfulness practices are used to help people notice stress and calm their reactions in everyday life. Dr. Smith also uses solution-focused methods to set clear short-term goals.

Those approaches help when someone needs concrete change quickly, such as improving communication or managing work pressure. Sessions can include coaching-style tools for career decisions and life-purpose questions. Across many settings over her career - agencies, universities, independent practice, and military installations - she has helped people work through grief, trauma, parenting strain, and challenges with intimacy or self-esteem.

Her work includes support for LGBT concerns, veteran and armed forces issues, and workplace problems. In sessions clients can expect a calm, goal-minded atmosphere. Dr.

Smith aims to meet people where they are and support steady progress. She frames therapy as practical problem solving alongside emotional understanding.

Approaches that guide online sessions

Dr. Smith uses client-centered work to build rapport and shape therapy around each person’s needs. That approach focuses on listening, reflecting what matters most, and letting clients set the pace and priorities.

She also draws on cognitive behavioral therapy to help people notice thought patterns that fuel anxiety and try small behavioral experiments. CBT is helpful for stress, anxiety, mood changes, and areas like workplace or relationship communication by giving concrete tools to practice between sessions.

Finding the right mix of approaches is a collaborative process. She talks with each person about goals and preferences, then adjusts strategies as progress unfolds. That means treatment can shift over time to include more mindfulness skills, problem-solving, or focused goal work depending on what helps most.

Online formats available include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video allows face-to-face conversation and visual cues. Phone sessions can be a good option when bandwidth is limited or for shorter check-ins. Live chat and text messaging suit people who prefer written check-ins, need flexible timing, or want ongoing brief support between sessions. These options make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule and to maintain momentum toward concrete goals.
Explore online therapy options See what online therapy involves and what your next steps would be.

Questions people ask

What kinds of concerns does Dr. Smith address?
She helps people with stress, anxiety, relationship and family issues, self-esteem, career matters, trauma and grief, and related concerns such as communication problems and workplace issues.
How would you describe her therapy style?
Her style is client-centered and goal-focused. She combines listening with practical tools from cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness, and solution-focused approaches.
What experience does she bring to therapy?
She has 25 years in the helping professions, including work in agencies, universities, independent practice, and military installations.
What credentials and location are listed for this therapist?
The therapist holds MD, LCPC, and LPC credentials and practices in Georgia.
Are sessions offered in languages other than English?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work with this therapist?
International clients are not currently accepted.
What session formats are available?
Sessions may be delivered as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging.
How does the cost and scheduling work?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability and uses a subscription that can be canceled at any time. To begin, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.

What this therapist works with

Most often

Experience
25 years
Licensed
Georgia, Maryland
Languages
English

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