Shanua Smith, LPC-MH

Shanua Smith is a licensed professional counselor with mental health endorsement (LPC-MH) who practices in South Dakota. She supports people coping with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, grief, addictions, relationship and intimacy concerns, and the everyday strain of life changes. Shanua focuses on helping people feel steadier and more able to manage what they face.

She keeps sessions grounded and practical. Shanua listens first, then helps clients name what matters most and try small, workable steps. She uses clear, experience-based methods aimed at changing thoughts, building coping skills, and processing painful memories when needed.

Over 19 years of clinical work she has helped people with sleep and eating struggles, parenting stress, career pressures, ADHD, compassion fatigue, and challenges tied to abandonment or attachment wounds. She also supports those confronting serious medical issues like cancer and the strain of caregiving.

Her style blends client-centered conversation with structured techniques drawn from cognitive behavioral approaches, trauma-focused work, EMDR, and motivational interviewing. That mix is used to tailor a plan to each person's goals and pace. Sessions are collaborative and focused on practical changes that fit the client’s life.

Shanua aims to help people rebuild confidence, repair communication, and reduce overwhelm. She encourages steady progress through manageable steps and clear goals, helping clients move from crisis or stuckness toward greater resilience.

Approaches used in online therapeutic work

Client-centered therapy focuses on following the person's lead, offering empathy and support while the client decides what to work on; this helps when someone needs a calm, steady place to sort feelings. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) looks at the link between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and teaches concrete skills to reduce anxiety, improve mood, and change unhelpful patterns. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a trauma-focused method that helps process distressing memories and reduce their emotional intensity.

Finding the right approach is collaborative. Shanua will talk with each person about their goals, symptoms, and preferences and then try methods that fit those needs. She adjusts pace and tools so therapy feels useful and realistic for daily life.

Session formats are not specified in the biography, so confirm current options before booking. Many people find online sessions helpful for fitting therapy around work, caregiving, or medical appointments. Online work can make it easier to keep regular appointments, try focused skill practice between meetings, and maintain consistent progress without long travel times.