IFSTherapists

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LCSW

Sarah (she/her) Smith, LCSW

  • Experience14 years
  • LocationConnecticut
  • Focus areasStress and Anxiety, Family, and Trauma and abuse
  • Therapy approachesInternal Family Systems and Attachment-Based Therapy
  • LanguagesEnglish and Haitian Creole
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About Sarah

Sarah (she/her) Smith is a licensed clinical social worker with 14 years of practice who centers the therapeutic relationship as the foundation for change. She draws on Internal Family Systems alongside attachment-informed and client-centered approaches to help people address stress, anxiety, trauma, grief, self-esteem struggles, and life transitions.

Background and approach

Her style blends careful listening with practical interventions such as cognitive-behavioral techniques, motivational interviewing, and role-based exercises to support clients in strengthening coping skills and making meaningful shifts. Smith values humor, play, and exploration of family history as tools that can illuminate patterns and unlock new perspectives.

She invites clients to bring whatever matters to them into sessions, including faith or spirituality when relevant, and works collaboratively to set achievable goals. Based in Connecticut and licensed as an LCSW, she offers a thoughtful, strengths-focused approach for people navigating relationship challenges, career concerns, addictions, compassion fatigue, ADHD, and related issues.

How therapeutic approaches translate to online care

Sarah integrates Internal Family Systems and attachment-based and client-centered ideas into online work to help clients explore internal parts, relational patterns, and personal strengths. Internal Family Systems focuses on identifying and relating to different internal parts with curiosity and compassion, which can be useful for managing anxiety, trauma responses, and self-criticism. Attachment-based work examines relational histories and how early bonds shape current relationships and emotional regulation, offering pathways for improving communication and trust. Client-centered therapy emphasizes empathy and collaborative exploration, creating space for clients to guide the pace and focus of sessions.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist consults with each person about their goals, preferences, and needs, then combines strategies from these models to form a tailored plan. Clients are invited to experiment with techniques and give feedback so the work evolves responsively over time.

Online therapy with this clinician is offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, which supports flexible scheduling and access from different locations. These options make it easier to maintain continuity of care around work, family, or other commitments while engaging in evidence-informed methods adapted for virtual formats.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does this therapist commonly address?
Areas of focus include stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, depression, self esteem, parenting and relationship issues, addictions, career challenges, compassion fatigue, and ADHD among other related concerns.
Which therapeutic styles inform the work?
Sessions draw from Internal Family Systems, attachment-based and client-centered methods, along with cognitive behavioral therapy and motivational interviewing to tailor an approach to each person.
How much clinical experience does the therapist have?
She has 14 years of professional experience working with a range of emotional and life challenges in clinical settings.
What are the clinician's credentials and location?
She is an LCSW licensed in Florida and Connecticut with the following numbers: FL LCSW SW23601 and CT LCSW 11937, and practices from Connecticut.
Are sessions available in other languages or to international clients?
Therapy is offered in English and Haitian Creole. International clients are not currently accepted.
What formats are offered for sessions?
Available session formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to accommodate different preferences and needs.
How are costs and billing handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions are provided through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What steps are required to begin working together?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyFamily conflictsTrauma and abuseSelf esteemCoping with life changes

Also works with

AddictionsRelationship issuesGriefParenting issuesCareer difficultiesDepressionCompassion fatigueADHD

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAging and geriatric issuesAttachment issuesBody imageCaregiver issues and stressCommunication problemsControl issuesCoping with natural or human-caused disasterFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFatherhood issuesFirst responder issuesGuilt and shameHIV / AIDSImmigration issuesImpulsivityIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeMulticultural concernsPost-traumatic stressSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-loveSocial anxiety and phobiaWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Attachment-Based TherapyClient-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Motivational InterviewingSolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused TherapyInternal Family Systems

Experience

14+ years

Licensed

Connecticut, Florida

Languages

English, Haitian Creole