- Thoughts and everyday habits
- Practical behavior change
- Values-based goals
About Rena
Rena Smith is a licensed clinical social worker with 23 years of experience in Louisiana. She centers sessions on thoughts and everyday habits and helps people manage stress, anxiety, addictions, relationships, and the impact of trauma and abuse.
Rena views each person as the expert on their own life and looks for strengths to build on. She offers straightforward support and practical steps, not judgment. Starting therapy is hard, and she aims to make that first step feel more manageable.
Her approach draws from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and client-centered methods. That means she helps people notice unhelpful thoughts, choose values-based actions, and practice small, repeatable habits that fit daily life.
Rena also uses motivational interviewing and solution-focused strategies to clarify goals and move toward them. These tools are often used when working on addictions, behavior change, and career or parenting concerns.
Over two decades of practice have brought experience with grief, bipolar concerns, family issues, eating and parenting struggles, and compassion fatigue. She also addresses topics like codependency, divorce and separation, obsessive-compulsive patterns, and multicultural concerns.
Sessions are offered in English and are based in Louisiana. People interested in starting can expect a supportive, down-to-earth conversation focused on small changes that make daily life easier.
Rena views each person as the expert on their own life and looks for strengths to build on. She offers straightforward support and practical steps, not judgment. Starting therapy is hard, and she aims to make that first step feel more manageable.
Her approach draws from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and client-centered methods. That means she helps people notice unhelpful thoughts, choose values-based actions, and practice small, repeatable habits that fit daily life.
Rena also uses motivational interviewing and solution-focused strategies to clarify goals and move toward them. These tools are often used when working on addictions, behavior change, and career or parenting concerns.
Over two decades of practice have brought experience with grief, bipolar concerns, family issues, eating and parenting struggles, and compassion fatigue. She also addresses topics like codependency, divorce and separation, obsessive-compulsive patterns, and multicultural concerns.
Sessions are offered in English and are based in Louisiana. People interested in starting can expect a supportive, down-to-earth conversation focused on small changes that make daily life easier.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Family conflictsEating disordersParenting issuesAnger managementCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCoping with life changesCoachingCompassion fatigue
Additional focus areas
Avoidant personalityCodependencyDependent personalityDivorce and separationDrug and alcohol addictionFamily of origin issuesForgivenessGuilt and shameHIV / AIDSInfidelityIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeMulticultural concernsObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPersonality disordersPrejudice and discriminationProcess addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)Self-harmSelf-loveSmoking / vaping cessationSocial anxiety and phobia
Therapeutic approaches
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Motivational InterviewingSolution-Focused Therapy
Experience
23+ years
Credentials
Louisiana
Languages
English
How Rena’s Approaches Translate to Online Work
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy helps people notice unhelpful thoughts and choose actions that match their values. It is useful for stress, anxiety, grief, and making life changes. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy focuses on identifying and testing thoughts and habits to reduce symptoms and improve daily functioning. It often helps with anxiety, obsessive-compulsive patterns, and mood shifts. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes a respectful, nonjudgmental conversation where the therapist follows the person's lead and supports strengths and insight.Finding the best approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with the client about goals, preferences, and practical needs, then try methods that seem to fit. Adjustments are made over time based on what helps the person make progress.
Session formats are not specified in the biography, so confirm current online options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into busy lives, shorten commute time, and allow for shorter check-ins when needed. They can also make it simpler to practice new habits between meetings and to bring real-life examples into sessions. Licensed professionals can tailor pacing and homework to suit everyday routines and responsibilities.
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does Rena commonly help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, addictions, relationship challenges, trauma and abuse, grief, and related life changes.
What is her therapy style like?
Her style is straightforward and strengths-focused, helping people notice thoughts and develop everyday habits that support their goals.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 23 years of professional experience working in behavioral health and social work settings.
What credentials and region are listed?
She holds an LCSW license and practices in Louisiana.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work with her?
She is not accepting international clients at this time.
How does billing and cost work?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What are the steps to begin therapy?
Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule based on therapist availability.