Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor
Chandler Smith
MA, LCMHC
You Don't Have to Have Everything Figured Out
Therapy for teens, families, adults, and couples navigating emotional regulation challenges, life transitions, relationships, and family dynamics.
Welcome
We can start exactly where you are
Hello, and thank you for considering Hearth Counseling & Consulting! I'm Chandler Smith, a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor dedicated to supporting teens, families, adults, and couples in navigating emotional regulation challenges.
My Approach to Therapy
Warm, collaborative, honest, and practical
I believe that the therapeutic relationship is an important part of the work we do together. You should feel comfortable enough to be honest about what you're feeling, what you're struggling with, and what you want to be different.
I take a collaborative approach to therapy and recognize that everyone needs something different from their therapeutic space. I will meet you where you are while also challenging you to explore the concerns and patterns that may be keeping you stuck.
Together, we can slow things down, make sense of what you're experiencing, and begin to unravel the thoughts, emotions, and patterns that can sometimes feel difficult to understand on your own.
I don't believe therapy should simply be about learning how to "cope" with whatever life throws at you. I want you to develop a deeper understanding of yourself and build tools that actually fit into your everyday life.
My hope is that you leave therapy feeling more equipped to navigate difficult emotions, communicate your needs, understand yourself, and move through life with greater confidence and intention.
Areas of Focus
What we can work on
Emotional Regulation & Emotional Awareness
When your emotions feel bigger than you know how to manage.
You may feel easily overwhelmed, shut down, frustrated, reactive, or unsure why certain situations affect you so deeply. Together, we can explore where your emotions come from, identify patterns, and develop healthier ways to understand, express, and regulate what you feel.
Anxiety, Mood & Self-Esteem
When your thoughts and emotions make it difficult to feel like yourself.
Therapy can provide space to explore anxiety, mood concerns, self-doubt, negative self-talk, comparison, and feelings of not being "good enough." We can work toward developing greater self-awareness, confidence, and self-compassion.
Identity & Self-Acceptance
When you're figuring out who you are and how you want to show up in the world.
Identity can evolve throughout our lives. Therapy can be a space to explore questions about who you are, what matters to you, and how your experiences have shaped the way you see yourself.
I provide affirming support for clients exploring identity, self-acceptance, belonging, and personal growth.
LGBTQIA+ & BIPOC Communities
Your identity and lived experiences belong in the therapy room.
I provide affirming support to LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC clients as they navigate identity development, self-acceptance, relationships, belonging, and life transitions. I recognize that culture, identity, and lived experiences can influence how we understand ourselves and interact with the world around us.
My goal is to create a space where you don't have to minimize or set aside important parts of who you are in order to receive support.
Relationships & Communication
When you know what you need but struggle to communicate it or when the same relationship patterns keep showing up.
We can explore communication difficulties, boundaries, conflict, emotional needs, and patterns that may be affecting your relationships. The goal is not simply to communicate better, but to better understand yourself and the ways you connect with others.
Life Transitions
When life changes and you're trying to figure out what comes next.
Transitions can bring excitement, uncertainty, grief, stress, and questions about who you are becoming. Whether you're navigating changes in school, work, relationships, family, identity, or other areas of life, therapy can provide a space to make sense of the transition and determine what you want for yourself moving forward.
Family Dynamics
When relationships with the people closest to you feel complicated.
Family relationships can bring connection and support, but they can also bring conflict, misunderstanding, and difficult patterns. Therapy can help you explore communication, boundaries, emotional needs, and the ways family experiences may influence how you relate to yourself and others.
Trauma & Difficult Experiences
When something you've experienced continues to affect how you feel, think, or relate to others.
Therapy can provide a supportive space to explore difficult experiences and understand the ways they may continue to influence your emotions, relationships, sense of safety, or view of yourself.
We can move at a pace that feels manageable while developing healthier ways of responding to what you're experiencing now.
Therapeutic Techniques & Modalities
How I Work
I don't believe in a one-size-fits-all approach to therapy. I draw from different evidence-based approaches and adapt our work based on your needs, goals, and experiences.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Exploring the relationship between thoughts, emotions, and behaviors and identifying patterns that may no longer be helpful.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Developing practical skills for emotional regulation, distress tolerance, mindfulness, and navigating relationships.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Exploring your values and learning to respond to difficult thoughts and emotions in ways that support the life you want to build.
Mindfulness
Developing greater awareness of your thoughts, emotions, and experiences while learning to stay connected to the present moment.
Integrative Therapy
Bringing together different therapeutic approaches to create treatment that is responsive to the individual rather than relying on one method for everyone.
The approach matters, but so does the relationship. My goal is for therapy to feel useful, personal, and connected to your actual life.
A Good Fit
You have a hard time making sense of your emotions.
You often feel overwhelmed by what's happening inside your mind.
You want to understand yourself rather than simply make uncomfortable feelings disappear.
You struggle to communicate your needs or feelings in relationships.
You're navigating a significant transition and aren't sure who you are on the other side of it.
You're exploring your identity or working toward greater self-acceptance.
You're struggling with self-esteem or confidence.
You notice patterns in your relationships that you want to understand and change.
You want a therapist who will listen, support you, and also gently challenge you when needed.
You want therapy to feel like a genuine conversation rather than simply being analyzed.
You Might Feel At Home Working With Me If...
Credentials
Education, credentials & experience
Education
Master's in Mental Health Counseling: North Carolina State University
Licensure
Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC), North Carolina
Professional Experience
My professional background includes work in private practice and school environments, as well as supporting individuals, families, and groups with a variety of emotional, relational, and life concerns.
Personal
Get to know me
A Little About Me
I believe the person behind the therapist matters, too.
Outside of the therapy room, I enjoy reading, arts and crafts, and rock climbing. I value having interests outside of work that allow me to be creative, curious, challenged, and present.
I also believe that growth doesn't always happen in a straight line. Sometimes progress looks like a major breakthrough, and sometimes it looks like understanding yourself a little better than you did yesterday
Practical Information & Next Steps
The details that make it easy to start
BCBS
Blue Home w/ UNC Health Alliance
Aetna
SHP
Healthy Blue
UHC
Out-of-network for all others
Insurance Accepted
Session Availability
Virtual and In-Person sessions offered
Ready to Get Started?
You don't have to know exactly what to say or have everything figured out before reaching out. If you're ready to explore what's been weighing on you, I invite you to schedule a consultation or book an appointment with me.
Take the first step toward understanding yourself, navigating life's challenges, and creating meaningful change. I look forward to connecting with you.
Your First Conversation
You don't have to have it all figured out.
Maybe you know you're struggling, but you're not quite sure how to explain it. Maybe your emotions feel difficult to understand, or you're finding it harder to communicate what you need in your relationships.
You can start wherever you are.
Our first conversation is a chance to talk about what's been going on, what you'd like to understand or change, and what you're hoping to get from therapy. Together, we can explore whether my approach feels like the right fit for you.
There doesn't need to be a perfect starting point. We can figure it out together.
Location
8392 Six Forks Rd Suite 203
Raleigh, NC 27615