Michelle Smith, LMHC

04/07/2026

Excited to share that I’ve been featured for the second time in Candlelight Magazine’s “Dear Candlelight” column! 💛
In this issue, I respond to heartfelt letters from readers navigating grief. It’s truly an honor to hold space for these brave stories and remind anyone walking through loss: you do not have to grieve alone.
Grief can feel isolating, but sharing it in community, can bring comfort and connection.
You can read my responses (and the beautiful letters) here:
https://online.flippingbook.com/view/633918765/
If you’re grieving right now, please know your pain matters and support is available. You’re not alone.
Have you ever written to an advice column or found comfort in reading someone else’s story? I’d love to hear your thoughts below.

04/02/2026

Excited to share that I contributed to this thoughtful new piece from AARP !
“5 Things Mental Health Professionals Want You to Know About Online Therapy”
We covered everything from the real advantages (no travel, more flexibility, easier access for many), to navigating tech challenges, confidentiality, setting goals, and knowing when it’s okay to switch therapists.
If you’ve been thinking about trying virtual therapy, or already have, this is a great, balanced read.
Full article here: https://www.aarp.org/health/healthy-living/what-to-know-about-online-therapy/
What’s one question you still have about online therapy? Feel free to ask in the comments — happy to chat!

03/04/2026

Healing after heartbreak and loss can feel so heavy, especially when shame, self-blame, and “what if I’d done things differently” keep whispering in your ear

In this heartfelt conversation, Charles Ogunnowo Global Villaje Radio invites me to share openly about moving forward without carrying that shame, rebuilding self-worth after disappointment, and nurturing your emotional & mental wellbeing through grief, relational loss, and the ache of letting go… while still holding onto who you truly are.

We talk about:
💔 Healing heartbreak without losing yourself
💔 Letting go of self-blame after a breakup or relational rupture
💔 Reclaiming resilience and self-compassion in grief & loss
💔 Navigating anxiety, shame, and the quiet rebuilding of trust in yourself

This episode is for anyone who’s been through the fire of heartbreak and is ready to step gently toward light again.

Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNwONMVayfw

If this resonates, drop a ❤️ in the comments or share one gentle thing you’re doing to care for your heart right now. I’m here with you.

02/26/2026

I'm excited to share that I've been featured on in their inspiring series on finding purpose and building meaningful careers! 🌟

In the interview, I open up about my own journey from the challenges and pivotal moments that led me to therapy, to launching and growing my private practice as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC). I discuss how I discovered (and continue to rediscover) my sense of purpose, the core skills and qualities I believe are essential as both a therapist and a business owner like empathy, resilience, clear boundaries, continuous learning, and authentic connection and more reflections on supporting clients through trauma, grief, anxiety, relationships, and life transitions.

Whether you're navigating your own path to purpose, considering therapy, or a colleague interested in connecting/networking, this piece shares some heartfelt insights from my story.

Check it out here: https://boldjourney.com/meet-michelle-smith-lpc-lmhc

If this resonates with you, I invite you (or anyone you know) to visit my website at www.michellesmithlmhc.com and book a free 15-minute consultation. It's a no-pressure way to see if we're a good fit. Whether you're seeking individual support, couples work, group therapy, or just exploring options.

Grateful for this opportunity to share and keep building a space where people can heal, grow, and find their own lighthouse. 💛

01/29/2026

In the face of the escalating ICE raids and the fear, grief, and nervous system activation rippling through our communities right now, I want to offer something gentle and real.

I'm hosting a one-time, 90-minute virtual group:
Coping With Extreme Violence and Trauma Within Our Communities

This is a trauma-informed space to:
🔵 Understand why these events hit our bodies and minds so hard (and why that's a normal, protective response)
🔵 Connect with others carrying similar weight a confidential, non-judgmental container
🔵Connect with others carrying similar weight
🔵 Learn practical tools to ground, regulate, and stay resourced
🔵 Talk about realistic ways to support family, friends, neighbors, and community while protecting your own energy

Group size is small on purpose—so everyone has room to speak and be heard.
Cost: $99
Format: Virtual
If the current wave of violence and uncertainty is overwhelming your system, this group is a place to pause, breathe, and feel less alone.

To join the interest list and help choose dates that works:
https://forms.gle/y5RS4UNYayZpFTpaA

Feel free to share this with anyone in your circles who might need it. You're not alone. We're in this together.

With care,
Michelle Smith, LPC

01/28/2026

Excited to share something new today! 🎙️

I recently sat down with Richard Zwicky on the “High on Healthy” podcast for a heartfelt conversation about trauma recovery and mental health therapy.

We dove into how I work virtually across Florida, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, and Oregon utilizing interventions such as EMDR, clinical hypnosis, and Internal Family Systems (IFS) to help people move through feeling “stuck” from chronic stress and unresolved trauma.

We talked about how adverse childhood experiences can leave the nervous system in chronic fight-or-flight, showing up in adulthood as:

👉 Difficulty resting or feeling truly safe in your body
👉 Disconnection or challenges in relationships
👉 Dissociation that often gets dismissed as “just being busy”

It can be extremely validating to name these patterns out loud, and I hope this episode offers some hope and practical insight if you’ve been carrying similar experiences.

You can listen wherever you get your podcasts!

🎧Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/high-on-healthy/id1181234369?i=1000746720897

🎧Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5AJtSg3bZVoSMxFHxRTwuy?si=21d1872565014716

Tag a friend who might resonate, share your favorite nervous system regulation tip in the comments, or just drop a 💜 if you’re ready to feel more regulated and connected

I am always incredibly grateful l for the opportunity to talk about this work! Thank you, Richard for the thoughtful and encouraging space!
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01/08/2026

Happy New Year! 🎉 I am starting 2026 with a powerful conversation on the NPK Integration Health Podcast's "Health Raisers" episode with Dr. Nadine Kelly!

I joined as a guest to dive deep into intergenerational trauma, from how to recognize it, accept it, and adapt so we can move from surviving to truly thriving together

We covered:
✨ What intergenerational trauma really is
🧭 When it's okay to detach
🌉 Balancing respect for elders with healthy boundaries
🧠 Shifting from survival mode to thriving mode
💔 The difference between guilt and shame in healing
💡 And so much more!

Watch the full episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TdoaZKKOcY

In the spirit of the new year, let's set an intention to heal for our future selves in 2026 ✨🫶

Visit www.michellesmithlmhc.com to book a free consultation, sign up for my email newsletter, or join the interest list for my upcoming 9-week Chronic Illness & Pain Management virtual group therapy.

Here's to breaking cycles and stepping into thriving in 2026! 💫

12/26/2025

However the holidays are feeling for you, know you're not alone and help is available 24/7 through the resources below

As we enter 2026 consider gifting yourself the chance to heal and grow in therapy

Learn more at my website where you can sign up for my newletter or schedule a free consultation today: ✨www.michellesmithlmhc.com

Merry Christmas! 🎄 🎁🫶💙

Merry Christmas 🎄✨ If you’re not feeling festive today, feeling a bit lonely, or feeling like you need a little extra support, we’re here for you.

Visit samhsa.gov/find-help for confidential support.

12/19/2025

If you’ve ever caught yourself reacting in a way that feels out of your control and thought, “Why am I reacting like this?”—this podcast episode is for you!

I recently joined host Stacey Chillemi to dive deep into how trauma affects the brain and nervous system, bust common myths that keep us stuck, and share practical tools you can start using today for real healing and regulation.

Here’s what we cover:
✨ Trauma isn’t just the event—it’s the nervous system’s response
✨ Why subconscious patterns drive those automatic reactions
✨ Simple regulation tools: grounding, breathwork, routines, and safety cues
✨ A holiday stress plan with boundaries, radical acceptance, and “coping on purpose”

Ready to rewire your subconscious mind and feel steadier this season? Listen now and try one tool today! 🎧

Link to episode below and in my bio:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArSbfm5EGWo

Head to www.michellesmithlmhc.com today to schedule your free consultation, sign up for my newsletter, and explore virtual therapy services (available in Florida, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, and Oregon) focused on EMDR, clinical hypnosis, IFS, couples therapy, intensive sessions, group therapy, and more!

12/03/2025

I am honored to have been invited onto the Soma Says podcast with Dr. Soma Mandal, MD to talk about something I see every single day in my practice: how unresolved trauma lives in the body, not just the mind

We went deep on:
🔵 How trauma actually gets stored in the body (and why talk therapy alone often isn’t enough)
🔵 The real reason so many women walk around with chronic stress, burnout, anxiety, and “I feel guilty saying no” energy
🔵 How somatic therapy, clinical hypnosis, EMDR, IFS and deep nervous system and subconscious rewiring work helps you finally release survival patterns instead of just managing them
🔵 Simple, practical ways to start calming your body and healing shame from the inside out

If you’ve ever wondered “Why do I keep doing this even though I know better?” or felt like anxiety lives in your chest/shoulders/chest/stomach… this one’s for you!

Watch/listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EDaJL8q898

And if it resonates, please share it with one woman in your life who needs to hear she’s not broken she’s just carrying things her body has never been allowed to put down!

I am so grateful to Dr. Mandal who has created such a safe space for this conversation. 🫶

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11/27/2025

🦃 This Thanksgiving, let’s hold space for both gratitude AND the very real feelings that holidays can bring up!

For many, this season isn’t all warmth and pie! It can also bring up old wounds, family tension, loneliness, or overwhelming stress

You don’t have to “push through” or pretend everything is okay. Your feelings are valid, and support is available 24/7

My “Managing Holiday Triggers & Stress” group is still open for all residents in New Hampshire, Florida, Oklahoma & Oregon

We’re meeting virtually Friday December 5th 8:30AM- 10AM CST to talk boundaries, nervous-system regulation, and surviving family gatherings without losing yourself.

Please visit my website at www.michellesmithlmhc.com for more details!

You’re not alone 💛

🦃🍂 Thanksgiving is a time of gratitude, but it can also bring mixed emotions—and that's okay.

If today is difficult for you, please remember you’re not alone—confidential support is always available. Reach out today. samhsa.gov/find-help

11/22/2025

🎄 The holidays are coming… and so are the triggers.
Family drama, loneliness, grief, people-pleasing, old wounds flaring up at the dinner table…
If December already has your nervous system buzzing, you’re not alone—and you don’t have to just survive it this year.
Join my small, virtual “Managing Holiday Triggers & Stress” group
Friday, December 5th ⋅ 8:30–10:00 AM CST (9:30 EST / 6:30 PST)
Live on Google Meet ⋅ Limited spots left!
We’ll use EMDR skills, nervous-system regulation tools, and zero-BS coping strategies so you can actually enjoy parts of the season instead of dreading it.
Open to adults in Florida ⋅ New Hampshire ⋅ Oklahoma ⋅ Oregon
One-time group $99
Link in my bio to grab your spot now!
Drop a 🎁 below if the holidays already stress you out
Comment “GROUP” and I’ll send you the direct link just in case!