- Stress and anxiety
- Relationship communication
- Family of origin issues
About Charmaine
Charmaine Smith is a licensed marriage and family therapist with 17 years of clinical experience. She holds LMFT licensure in Kentucky and Texas, and a Licensed Clinical Marriage and Family Therapist credential in Maryland. She works with adults on stress, anxiety, relationship concerns, family issues, self-esteem, and coaching needs.
Her approach is practical and direct. She uses methods such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Emotionally-Focused Therapy to help people name patterns and try different ways of responding. Sessions focus on specific worries - like feeling stuck after school, early career pressure, or trouble communicating with a partner - and on skills that can be used between meetings.
She also addresses areas linked to family history, including abandonment, adoption and foster care, blended family strain, and fatherhood issues. Other concerns she helps people with include body image, cancer-related stress, caregiver strain, commitment problems, and coping with separation or divorce. Work may include talking through past family dynamics and practicing new ways to relate.
Charmaine adapts discussion and planning to each person’s situation. She keeps conversations clear and oriented toward goals people set together. Many clients find this useful when juggling study, work, and relationships.
To begin, clients complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule a first session. The therapist practices in Kentucky and provides services in English.
Approaches used and what online sessions look like
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on clarifying personal values and taking small steps toward them while accepting difficult thoughts. ACT can be helpful for people dealing with anxiety, stress, or a sense of being stuck in early adulthood. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) works by spotting unhelpful thinking and testing new behaviors to change feelings and outcomes. CBT is often used for anxiety, low mood, and practical problems like study or work stress. Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) helps people notice and name core emotions in relationships so they can respond differently and improve connection. Finding the best approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to decide which methods fit their goals, needs, and preferences. Decisions are revisited as therapy progresses so plans can be adjusted if something isn’t helping. The biography does not list specific session formats, so please confirm current options before booking. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy week, reduce travel time, and allow short check-ins around study or work commitments. Some formats need less video or bandwidth and can be a better fit when time is limited. Overall, the focus is on making sessions practical and usable in day-to-day life rather than on a single technique.Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
17+ years
Listed in
Kentucky, Texas, Maryland
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of issues does she help with?
She focuses on stress, anxiety, relationship and family concerns, self-esteem, and coaching. Additional topics include abandonment, adoption and foster care, body image, and caregiver stress.
What is her general therapy style?
Sessions are practical and goal-oriented, using approaches like ACT, CBT, and Emotionally-Focused Therapy. Conversations emphasize skills and changes clients can practice between meetings.
How many years of experience does she have?
She has 17 years of professional experience working with adults on relationship and personal concerns.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She holds LMFT licensure in Kentucky and Texas and an LCMFT credential in Maryland. She practices in Kentucky.
Can I work with her if I live outside the United States?
Sessions are offered in English and she is not accepting international clients at this time.
What session formats are available?
Confirm current session options before booking, as the biography does not list specific formats. Please check the platform or contact support for format details.
How is cost handled?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time. Specific rates depend on the chosen plan and region.
How do I begin working with her?
Use the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy through BetterHelp is for adults aged 18 and over and is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the emergency numbers. Find someone else by name.