- CBT techniques
- Mindfulness practice
- Gottman informed work
About Phyllis
Phyllis Smith is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) practicing in North Carolina with five years of experience. She works with people facing stress, anxiety, relationship strain, parenting concerns, depression, addictions, grief, anger, and related life changes. Sessions focus on clear goals and practical steps that fit daily life.
Phyllis uses a collaborative, strengths-based approach. She helps clients identify what already works for them and builds on those strengths. She asks about hopes and goals, then helps shape concrete steps toward them. She aims to challenge unhelpful patterns while keeping conversations straightforward and honest.
Her clinical work draws on Client-Centered ideas, cognitive behavioral techniques, existential questions about meaning, and elements of the Gottman Method for relationship work. Mindfulness practices are used when helpful to reduce reactivity and increase present-moment awareness. She adapts methods to the person in front of her rather than relying on a single formula.
Sessions can address specific behaviors, like temper or control issues, and broader problems such as attachment, family of origin concerns, or coping with major life events. She has experience with a wide range of identity and diversity factors and works with people across many backgrounds. Practical skill-building for communication, boundaries, and emotional regulation is a common focus.
Phyllis emphasizes steady progress through doable changes. People who come for help can expect direct conversation, a focus on measurable steps, and follow-through on goals they set together.
How her approaches translate to online sessions
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and creating a clear set of goals from the client's point of view. Online work can use that same straightforward approach to identify what matters and what small changes to try first. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at thoughts and behaviors and teaches specific skills to change them; in remote sessions this often means short homework tasks and step-by-step practice between meetings. Mindfulness Therapy adds simple attention and breathing practices to reduce reactivity and increase awareness of triggers, which can be practiced during the week and reviewed together.Finding the right blend of approaches is part of the early work. The therapist will talk with the client about goals, preferences, and what feels doable. Together they will pick techniques and set concrete steps to try, then adjust based on what helps and what does not. That collaborative decision-making guides the plan rather than a fixed method.
Session formats are not specified in the biography, so confirm current options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life by removing travel time and allowing shorter check-ins when needed. It can also let people use phone-only conversations if bandwidth or a quieter setup is required. The focus remains on practical skills, clear goals, and ways to apply what is learned between sessions.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
5+ years
Listed in
North Carolina
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she address?
She works with stress, anxiety, relationships, parenting, depression, addictions, grief, anger, and related life changes.
What is her therapeutic style?
She takes a collaborative, strengths-based approach and combines practical skill-building with goal-focused work.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has five years of experience as a practicing clinician.
What are her credentials and where does she practice?
She is an LMFT - Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist - practicing in North Carolina.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people from other countries work with her?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How are costs handled for sessions?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin if I want to book a session?
Start by selecting the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.