Phyllis Smith
Relationship-focused licensed therapist
LMFT North Carolina
- Experience
- 5 years in practice
- Focus areas
- Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Family
- Approaches
- Gottman Method, Client-Centered Therapy
- Languages
- English
About Phyllis
Phyllis Smith is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) based in North Carolina. She brings five years of clinical experience and a calm, team-focused way of working.
Background and approach
She listens closely and partners with people to set clear goals and practical steps forward. Phyllis emphasizes relationship skills and emotional connection.
She uses the Gottman Method alongside client-centered and cognitive behavioral approaches to help people manage stress, anxiety, and relationship challenges. Sessions are aimed at building everyday skills that fit real life.
Her work often covers parenting and family stresses, grief, trauma and abuse, and struggles with mood such as depression or bipolar concerns. Phyllis also addresses issues like addictions, self-esteem, intimacy challenges, and ADHD in adults.
She pays attention to how attachment, abandonment, and family-of-origin patterns shape current behavior. She focuses on strengths and practical growth.
Therapy includes setting small, achievable goals, trying new ways of relating, and practicing better communication. Phyllis challenges clients in a supportive way so they can form healthier habits over time.
People who come to her can expect a collaborative process. She helps identify what matters most, then tailors techniques to those goals.
Her aim is to restore hope and offer tools that make daily life more manageable and connected.
How therapy approaches translate to online care
Client-centered therapy focuses on listening and creating a respectful space where the client leads the conversation; online sessions let that work continue in whatever format feels most comfortable. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, helps people spot thought patterns and try new behaviors; it often includes concrete exercises that can be practiced between sessions and reviewed during video or messaging check-ins. The Gottman Method offers tools for improving communication and managing conflict in relationships, which can be taught and practiced in remote sessions with role-plays and homework.Choosing the right approach is a shared process. The therapist will discuss goals, priorities, and preferences and then suggest which methods to try first. That plan can be adjusted over time based on what feels helpful and what produces small, steady changes.
Online therapy with Phyllis is available by video call, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging. Video is useful for in-depth conversation and practicing communication skills. Phone can work well when bandwidth is limited or when someone prefers not to be on camera. Live chat and messaging are useful for shorter check-ins, tracking progress, or getting support between sessions. These options make it easier to fit therapy into busy days and different schedules.
Frequently asked questions
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Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
5+ years
Licensed in
North Carolina
Languages
English