Location
Ages
Focus
ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS
About Lauren
Joining the Palmetto Counseling team in August 2024, Lauren Smith offers her clients a safe and judgment-free space to reconnect with themselves and heal from painful past experiences. Naturally energetic, empathetic, and playfully sarcastic, she takes pride in establishing authentic and meaningful connections with her clients and a comfortable environment for expressing vulnerabilities. With over 11 years of experience as a mental health professional, Lauren’s passion lies in helping individuals, especially women, rediscover their worth and identity in a world that influences putting their needs second to those of others and feeling selfish for doing otherwise.
Lauren followed her innate ability and drive to help others toward becoming a therapist. Even as a child, she recognized her gift of guiding those who felt stuck back on track. Eliminating shame from the equation, her goal is to understand what each client needs to develop their unique ‘playbook’ to flourish. She’s fueled by this process and the opportunity to remind clients of their strengths and be the source of encouragement needed to unlock a brighter future.
As a new client of Lauren’s, you can expect a confidential, purposeful experience dedicated to implementing realistic strategies for self-improvement. Lauren firmly believes that therapy is a tool for change and will help you identify your most important goals and how to achieve them through collaboration. Her work with you is intentional and she encourages viewing it as a special time set aside to solely and un-selfishly focus on you!
Whether you’re struggling with identity, life transitions, or trauma recovery, Lauren wants the best for all of her clients and will champion your journey toward empowerment and guilt-free self-prioritization every step of the way.
“My time as a therapist has shown me that every person struggles with mental health challenges in some way but many won’t receive the support needed due to how often difficult experiences are overlooked or minimized, including many present in the Bible. My goal is to provide that support for my clients and live by the motto, ‘Be the person you needed when you were trying to find your way.’”
—Lauren Smith, MMFT, LMFT
Education
- Bachelors in Sociology, University of South Carolina Upstate
- Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy, Converse College
“My time as a therapist has shown me that every person struggles with mental health challenges in some way but many won’t receive the support needed due to how often difficult experiences are overlooked or minimized, including many present in the Bible. My goal is to provide that support for my clients and live by the motto, ‘Be the person you needed when you were trying to find your way.’”
—Lauren Smith, MMFT, LMFT
Education
- Bachelors in Sociology, University of South Carolina Upstate
- Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy, Converse College
About Lauren
Joining the Palmetto Counseling team in August 2024, Lauren Smith offers her clients a safe and judgment-free space to reconnect with themselves and heal from painful past experiences. Naturally energetic, empathetic, and playfully sarcastic, she takes pride in establishing authentic and meaningful connections with her clients and a comfortable environment for expressing vulnerabilities. With over 11 years of experience as a mental health professional, Lauren’s passion lies in helping individuals, especially women, rediscover their worth and identity in a world that influences putting their needs second to those of others and feeling selfish for doing otherwise.
Lauren followed her innate ability and drive to help others toward becoming a therapist. Even as a child, she recognized her gift of guiding those who felt stuck back on track. Eliminating shame from the equation, her goal is to understand what each client needs to develop their unique ‘playbook’ to flourish. She’s fueled by this process and the opportunity to remind clients of their strengths and be the source of encouragement needed to unlock a brighter future.
As a new client of Lauren’s, you can expect a confidential, purposeful experience dedicated to implementing realistic strategies for self-improvement. Lauren firmly believes that therapy is a tool for change and will help you identify your most important goals and how to achieve them through collaboration. Her work with you is intentional and she encourages viewing it as a special time set aside to solely and un-selfishly focus on you!
Whether you’re struggling with identity, life transitions, or trauma recovery, Lauren wants the best for all of her clients and will champion your journey toward empowerment and guilt-free self-prioritization every step of the way.
In Lauren’s Free Time
Lauren loves to travel, read, and engage in outdoor activities. She is a proud plant mom, Android user, and taco connoisseur.
Areas of Specialization
- Anxiety and Depression
- Trauma (Trafficking, Domestic Violence, Addiction, Incarceration, Homelessness)
- Women’s Identity Issues (“Mommy Guilt”)
- Life Transitions
- Marital Conflict
Treatment Modalities
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Faith-Based Principles
Accepted Insurance
Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Optum/UnitedHealthcare, Out-of-Pocket/Self-Pay