Loretta Smith

Welcome! I truly am happy you are reaching out. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if our life challenges would communicate with a Global Pandemic and find a middle ground instead of yelling louder than the others to be heard?! Well, as we are still figuring that one out, I look forward to being here for you and helping you with concepts such as communicating effectively or changing your mindset since we cannot change the mindset of COVID-19! I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Indiana and have been working full time through telehealth platforms since Summer 2019. I have been providing counseling and social work services since 2006 in a variety of settings including residential, school-based, foster care, outpatient, and home-based. I have an extensive history working with individuals, families, couples, relationship, adults, and children. I am a skilled, empathetic listener who can help you clarify concerns and problem-solve the issues that are keeping you from feeling whole. As a therapist I have been able to work with most mental health diagnoses, age ranges, addictions, abuse, medical complications within individual and family centered treatment models. Below you will see the areas I have the most experience in and if I ever feel as though your needs would be suited better with another professional, I will let you know. I strongly believe that the things you are challenged with are not only about you! Family, no matter who you call your family, has a significant impact on how you can cope with changes to your mental health. Building rapport with you is my biggest priority. Most individuals I serve have told me they appreciate my level of self-disclosure and connection to what they are going through. I work extremely hard to meet each person where they are, and if my story is not important to your healing, then I let that go. My treatment approach changes based on what each individual needs. I use a variety of techniques from Cognitive-Behavioral therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Mind-fullness and Solution-Focused therapy. To put my style plainly, I use “techniques” (deep breathing, radical acceptance, challenging thoughts) and help you recognize how to adapt them to your daily life so you can feel empowered and in control when life seems out of control. I would be honored to walk this path beside you when you are ready. As COVID and isolation restrictions are still changing throughout the world, I know access to mental health services are almost more important than ever. I work extremely hard to offer you a schedule that works for you. I will be working T-W-R-Sa. My start times and end times vary between 9am-10pm EDT/EST, and my typical response times to unscheduled messages are between 24-72 hours. If you ever need a specific schedule due to your time zone or work needs, please know that I will make every effort to meet those for you. About Loretta: Loretta Graduated from Ball State University in 2008 with a bachelor’s in Family and Child Development and a minor in social work. Loretta went on to teach and develop parenting curriculum’s as well as lesson plans for toddlers and preschoolers at the university child center. Loretta continued her family and child work into foster care settings. Loretta went on to receive her Master’s in Social Work from IUPUI in 2015 and began providing services to teens, children, and families in schools. Loretta’s most recent role outside the home was as a therapist and team leader for adults, children, addictions, and Serious Mentally Ill (SMI) populations. Loretta is married with 2 children and a dog. Her family enjoys traveling, water sports like sailing and surfing, and in general being in the sun.