About Paula
Paula Smith is a licensed clinical social worker who helps people when stress, anxiety, grief, depression, addictions, trauma, and relationship pain feel overwhelming. She works with concerns related to LGBT identity, bipolar disorder, self-esteem, and major life transitions. Paula aims to make the first step into therapy manageable and direct.
She creates a calm, affirming space where people can name what they are feeling and try practical ways to cope.
How Paula works
Sessions focus on noticing patterns, learning skills to manage intense emotions, and improving everyday communication. Paula blends different methods so each plan matches a person’s needs and goals. Her background includes four years of clinical practice as an LCSW in Texas and Oklahoma.
That experience includes supporting people through chronic illness, caregiving stress, blended family issues, and losses that leave lasting shame or confusion. She also works with concerns such as codependency, addiction, and first responder stress. Therapy with Paula balances problem-solving and deeper reflection.
She may use structured exercises, short-term coping tools, and conversations that look at past relationships and how they shape present choices. The focus is on small changes that make daily life easier. Starting work together begins with a simple matching step and scheduling.
Paula seeks to be straightforward about what to try first and adjusts the approach as a person makes progress.
Paula lists 6 ways of working on the entry:
What Paula works with
The areas below are the ones Paula selected when setting up a profile. The first few are listed as the main focus; the rest are also named.
Also listed
- Addictions
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Attachment issues
- Bipolar disorder
- Blended family issues
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Chronic pain, illness, and disability
- Co-morbidity
- Codependency
- Commitment issues
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Dependent personality
- Depression
- Divorce and separation
- Drug and alcohol addiction
- First responder issues
- Forgiveness
- Gender dysphoria
- Grief
- Guilt and shame
- HIV / AIDS
- Hospice and end-of-life counseling
- Infidelity
- Isolation / loneliness
- Jealousy
- Life purpose
- Midlife crisis
- Mood disorders
- Multicultural concerns
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Polyamory / non-monogamous relationships
- Post-traumatic stress
- Prejudice and discrimination
- Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)
- Relationship issues
- Self esteem
- Self-harm
- Self-love
- Sexual assault and abuse
- Sexuality
- Veteran and Armed Forces Issues
- Workplace issues
- Young adult issues
Training and background
| Register | LCSW |
|---|---|
| Years in practice | 4 |
| Languages | English |
| Session format | Online: video, phone, live chat or messaging |
| Country | Texas |
Memberships and registers are shown as supplied; they are not licences, and this directory does not verify them.
Online support options
How Paula’s approaches translate to online work
CBT, or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing small behavior changes to reduce anxiety and depression. It uses clear steps and short exercises that people can try between sessions to see real shifts in mood and routine.DBT, or Dialectical Behavior Therapy, teaches skills for managing intense emotions, tolerating distress, and improving communication. These practical tools aim to lower crisis moments and make daily interactions feel more manageable.
Finding the right approach is part of the work together. Paula will talk with each person about goals, preferences, and what has or hasn’t helped before. Together they decide which methods to try and adjust the plan as the person notices progress.
If you plan to meet online, please confirm which session options the therapist currently offers before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life, allow for a shorter check-in when schedules are tight, and let people practice skills in their usual settings. Licensed professionals can use these approaches effectively in remote sessions while tailoring tools to each person’s day-to-day needs.
Start online instead of waiting
Our partner service asks a few questions about what you are looking for and matches you with a therapist for sessions from home.
Book with PaulaWe will earn a commission if you sign up through our link, at no cost to you.
Common questions
What kinds of concerns does Paula support?
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
What is her clinical experience?
Which credentials and location apply to this therapist?
Which languages are sessions offered in?
What session formats are available?
How does billing and cost work?
How do I begin working with Paula?
A practical next step
Write down two things you would want to be different in six months. That is the most useful thing to bring to a first session, whoever it is with. If you would rather start now than keep reading, online sessions are the quickest route.
We will earn a commission if you sign up through our link, at no cost to you. Entries are not assessed or endorsed by this directory.
Other entries for stress, anxiety
Supportive LCSW helping people build strength and clarity
Practical, trauma-aware therapy for everyday life
Practical, relational therapy for life transitions