Mikaela Mendez-Smith
Mental health therapist
Elle Word: Grounded
Who inspires me:
I’m inspired by those who move through adversity or fear with resilience, strength, and self-compassion. I’m equally moved by people who cherish life’s simple moments and hold onto optimism, even when life feels heavy. Their courage and perspective continually influence my own life, shaping the way I see the world and guiding how I show up with intention, gratitude, and heart.
Learn more about Mika’s services by visiting our frequently asked questions page.
Credentials:
Licensed Professional Counselor
Specialty:
For over 10 years I have been helping adults who are struggling with anxiety, life transitions, depression, intrusive thoughts/OCD, trauma, self-esteem, substance use, and psychosis.
Approach:
What I find most meaningful about being a therapist is building collaborative, trusting relationships with clients and supporting them as they move toward greater understanding, resilience, and change. It’s an honor to be invited into that process and to witness the growth that unfolds over time. Using a warm, nonjudgmental approach, I help clients better understand symptoms and concerns without feeling defined by them, and work together to rebuild self-love, agency, and alignment between feelings and actions. I integrate a personalized mix of evidence-based therapeutic approaches to support each client’s goals, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, mindfulness, psychoeducation, and Exposure and Response Prevention.