Maria Smith

Hello! My name is Maria Lucente Smith, and I am a Licensed Professional Counselor located in Corpus Christi, TX, working with clients all over Texas via Telehealth sessions! I have worked with children, teens, and adults in a wide variety of mental health settings for over seven years. My focus is to help you figure out what is not working and find what will. I will meet you where you are, and then we can go from there. I believe strongly in the growth and healing potential of people, no matter how long they have struggled. My role as your therapist is to help you gain insight and coping strategies, develop healthy relationship dynamics, and take hold of your inner strength to move forward from stuck places. I will guide you to help you identify how your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are connected so that you can have a new level of awareness, respond appropriately in challenging situations, and move toward the life you have been wanting. There is hope, and I’m here to help see you through your challenges. Everyone is welcome, and I would be honored if you would ask me to help you move forward.

My approach

I have an eclectic and integrative approach, which is Client-Centered, and I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) to address distorted thinking and emotional dysregulation, Trauma Focused, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), some aspects of Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS), Somatic techniques which deal with how the body and mind interact, Mindfulness approaches, and I am also in the process of completing a complex trauma certification. I also give a lot of Psychoeducation to help you better understand and get a lot more out of our work together.

My focus

I enjoy working with children, teens, and adults struggling with a wide range of issues, including, but not limited to, anxiety, depression, stress, trauma, and interpersonal issues.

My communication style

I’m told I am approachable, compassionate, and genuine. My clients know they will always be accepted, treated with dignity, supported, and respected in our therapy relationship. I provide a safe, empathic, and non-judgmental space for my clients where we can do healing and transformative work. We will uncover your strengths together and build upon them. I also challenge clients when necessary to facilitate growth.

My journey to mental healthcare

Some things just make sense and seem meant for us. Throughout my life I have had a lot of personal experiences and life situations that led me to seek this field. I was always the one who others would confide in when they were struggling or needed to talk about something on their minds. I have always was curious about what makes people think and do what they do and how people heal emotionally and rise out of hard life situations. Helping my clients grow and find that they have within them what they need to live their best lives is so rewarding!

My goals for you

I set goals with clients based on what they want in their lives, starting with where they are and what is important to them, and we go from there. Setting goals together yields far more effective outcomes. Goal setting is constant, and we will continue setting new goals as accomplishments are made, and new challenges and issues arise. We will work together to make positive shifts and progress within yourself and with your life around you.

My first session with you

As with all of our sessions, my clients can expect a supportive, open, and encouraging environment. The first session is an introduction for both of us, focused on gathering information that will allow me to formulate a diagnosis and develop a treatment plan. We will start setting our foundation of trust and building rapport. Our future sessions will be more like a conversation with someone you know and are comfortable with as we work together to achieve your goals.