Dr. Shawanda Woods-Smith

Dr. Shawanda Woods-Smith helps people who are struggling with strong emotions and life changes. She is a licensed psychologist in Louisiana with 16 years of experience. She works with concerns like stress, anxiety, depression, relationship problems, anger, and grief. Her approach is practical and straightforward so people can use what they learn right away.

In sessions she focuses on what a person wants to change and builds a plan together. She uses client-centered methods to listen and reflect, and cognitive behavioral techniques to address unhelpful thinking and behavior. Mindfulness and solution-focused ideas are also part of her work to help people find calmer responses and clearer next steps.

Dr. Woods-Smith also pays attention to how family background, caregiving roles, and life transitions affect someone’s emotions. She offers psychoeducation about how development, biology, and social or cultural factors can play a role in problems like communication breakdowns, commitment concerns, or parenting stress.

The tone in her sessions is collaborative. She helps clients set specific goals, practice new skills, and track progress between meetings. That can include working on anger management, improving intimacy, coping with burnout, or navigating separation and blended family issues.

People who choose her often want practical tools and clear explanations alongside compassionate listening. To begin, clients complete a short matching questionnaire and then schedule sessions according to availability.

How her approaches translate to online therapy

Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes listening and reflecting. It helps people feel heard and clarify what matters to them, which can guide steps forward for issues like relationship strain or parenting stress.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing new behaviors. It is useful for anxiety, depression, anger, and coping with life changes because it gives concrete skills to practice between sessions.

Mindfulness Therapy teaches simple awareness and breathing practices to reduce reactivity. These techniques can help with stress, anger, and emotional regulation when feelings run high.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will work together with each person to decide which methods fit their goals and preferences, and adjustments are made over time based on what helps.

If you are considering online sessions, confirm the available formats before booking since the biography does not list specific options. Many people find online work useful for fitting therapy into a busy schedule, shortening travel time, or keeping appointments during transitional periods. Online conversations can also make it easier to try short check-ins, practice exercises between meetings, and bring real-life situations into discussion.