Chris Smith

My path to becoming a counselor began in 2015, when I returned to school and earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Grace University. I later completed a master’s degree in mental health counseling at Crown College in 2021. During my time at The Cord: Where Science Meets Connection, I gained a deep appreciation for how attachment influences safety and connection in relationships. Training in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Radically Open Dialectical Behavior Therapy (RO-DBT), and mentoring provisional therapists helped me develop an integrative practice focused on helping clients heal, grow, and live authentically.

Therapy offers a place to set aside expectations and explore your authentic self. I help clients understand their values, personality, and inner parts so they can move forward with greater clarity and self-compassion. Meaningful change rarely happens alone. Guided by attachment principles, I emphasize secure connections, relational repair, and community support as foundations for emotional resilience. As a fully trained EMDR clinician and experienced RO-DBT group leader, I help clients process trauma, manage overcontrol and anxiety, and bring more joy into their lives. For clients who desire a faith element, I thoughtfully integrate Christian faith into a holistic approach that honors the mind, heart, and spirit.