- Stress and anxiety
- CBT and DBT
- Grief and addiction
About Dora
Dora Smith is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) with nine years of clinical experience. She practices in Virginia and holds LPC recognition in South Carolina as well. Dora focuses on common concerns young adults face, including stress, anxiety, life changes, relationship and family issues, grief, addiction, self-esteem, and depression.
She uses straightforward, person-focused methods in sessions. Dora helps people talk through what feels most pressing, learn coping skills, and try out new ways of handling daily pressures. Sessions often cover communication, problem solving, and building routines that reduce anxiety and overwhelm.
Her work draws on several established approaches such as Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, mindfulness, and motivational interviewing. Those methods are used to shape practical steps and to practice skills during sessions. Clients can expect a mix of talking, skill practice, and goal setting rather than only reflection.
Dora mentions a faith-informed perspective in her work for those who find that important. She also notes experience with issues linked to adoption and foster care, attachment concerns, aging and caregiver stress, chronic illness and pain, substance use, blended family and divorce issues, and feelings of emptiness.
People looking to start can expect clear guidance about next steps and simple, direct strategies to try between meetings. Dora works in English and accepts international clients when arrangements are made.
How her approaches are used in online work
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and building a working relationship. In practice this means the therapist follows the client's concerns and supports their choices while reflecting what the client says. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) breaks problems into thoughts, feelings, and actions and uses exercises to try different responses. CBT is often used for anxiety, low mood, and coping with life transitions. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) offers skills for managing intense emotions, improving relationships, and tolerating distress with practical tools and step-by-step practice.Finding the right approach is part of the process. Dora will work with the client to decide which methods fit their goals, needs, and preferences. That collaborative choice can change over time as goals shift or new issues come up.
Confirm the available session formats before booking since specific formats are not listed in the profile. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy schedule, turn a short break into a focused check-in, or choose a session style that needs less bandwidth or no camera. Practical benefits include more flexible scheduling and the chance to practice strategies between meetings in everyday settings.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
9+ years
Listed in
Virginia, South Carolina
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, life changes, relationship and family concerns, grief, addictions, self-esteem, and depression among other issues.
What is her general approach in sessions?
Sessions use person-focused methods like client-centered listening plus practical skills from CBT and DBT to address problems and try new strategies.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has nine years of experience as a Licensed Professional Counselor.
Where is she licensed and based?
She is an LPC in Virginia and also holds LPC recognition in South Carolina, and practices from Virginia.
Can I work with her if I live outside the United States?
She accepts international clients; sessions are offered in English.
What session formats are available?
Please confirm the current session options before booking, as specific formats are not listed in the profile.
How does payment work and what does it cost?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete the 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.