Emmy-Lou Thomas-Smith

Hi, I want to welcome you!

My name is Emmy-Lou Thomas-Smith, I am originally from Germany. I moved to the West Coast of America in 2003.  I speak English, German, and some basic American Sign Language (ASL) fluently. 

I obtained my bachelor’s in Social Work in Germany and have been privileged to work as a case manager, family resource coordinator, and doula for the past 13 years. Most of the professional experience I gained was working with children and adolescents, pregnant women, parents with their infants and toddlers, and in early intervention services (birth to three years old). Finally, after having gained this diverse experience from working in these various fields, I feel privileged to be able to take my career and passion for service to the next level by joining this incredible team to aid in completing the final requirements towards earning my master’s in clinical mental health counseling.

I am very passionate about and experienced working with families in maternal mental health, built on the years of working as a case manager and doula, has culminated and broadened my extensive understanding of those who are struggling with anxiety, depression, a sense of helplessness, quarter-life crises, trauma, racial identity crises, and women’s issues. My main priority is to work with you to ensure that you feel heard, safe, and empowered while exploring your trauma, emotions, and insecurities, with the intended goal of leading your best and healthiest life.

I consider myself a warm and compassionate counselor who will work with you to set goals, solve problems, and explore emotions while processing all relevant maternal/paternal and parental-related experiences. 

For me, therapy is all about meeting you where you are, facing the fear of the unknown, and helping you to understand trauma-related experiences so that you may feel safe and supported. While therapy is essential for exploring the hard stuff, it can also be a fun and enjoyable experience. Also, I am passionate about facilitating educational workshops for parents and support groups and facilitating group counseling and postpartum groups.

I like to take a client-centered approach to therapy and believe individuals should take an active part of their therapeutic journey. I utilize modalities ranging from a relational approach, CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), REBT (Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy), Mindfulness, and Reality Therapy, including Trauma and Grief Counseling, to find the best possible fit for you.

I look forward to meeting you and participating in your healing journey!

Emmy-Lou Thomas-Smith, a CMHC-A (student/intern), obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work in Bielefeld, Germany, and is working towards a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of West Alabama.