Hello, I’m Dr. Smith
Dr. Katherine W. Smith, LMFT
Education
Candidate in Psychoanalysis, Los Angeles Institute and Society for Psychoanalytic Study
Certificate in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy, Wright Institute Los Angeles
Doctor of Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Depth Psychology, Pacifica Graduate Institute, Santa Barbara, California
Dissertation: The Clinician Experience of Treating Suicidal Patients
Masters in Clinical Psychology with a specialization in Spiritual and Depth Psychology, Antioch University Los Angeles
Bachelor of Arts, The Evergreen State College, Olympia, Washington
Training
Wright Institute Los Angeles
Angeles Psychology Group
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Los Angeles LGBT Center
Antioch University Counseling Center
Professional Memberships
California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists
APA Division 39 - Psychoanalysis
Group Psychotherapy Association of Los Angeles
Faculty Positions
Advising and Consulting Faculty at Wright Institute Los Angeles
Adjunct Faculty, Antioch University Los Angeles
Adjunct Faculty, Reiss-Davis Graduate School
Adjunct Faculty, Pacifica Graduate Institute
More about Dr. Smith
I’m a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist LMFT#115452, a psychoanalytic therapist, and candidate in psychoanalysis at LAISPS. I am the founder of TherapySmith, I supervise all of our associate therapists, and I also provide consultation to other licensed clinicians.
Choosing a therapist is stressful!
You’re probably wondering if I’m the right therapist for you. The best way to decide if I'm a good match for you is for us to talk. But if you want to know more about me before you reach out, keep reading!
It's about you, not just your symptoms.
I work with people of diverse backgrounds and experiences: all ages, genders, sexual orientations, and cultures are welcome in my practice.
You might want to know if I have experience working with people like you or if I have experience with a particular mental health issue. For example, you may experience practical problems like relationship issues (including friendship, romance, sex, kink, etc.), loneliness or isolation, difficulty with life goals and staying motivated, or fatigue. Or you might have a hard time feeling understood by others. You may want to feel more confident and authentic, but you're just not sure what to do about it.
I treat many different kinds of mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, adjustment disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), ADD or ADHD, Asperger's or "high functioning" ASD, and personality disorders. While I am trained in psychological assessment and diagnosis, it is not the heart of my psychotherapy. The heart of my therapy practice is getting to know you as a whole person: the parts that you show the world, the parts that you've kept to yourself, and the parts you avoid.
I think talking about it (all of it) really helps.
Above all, being a psychoanalytic therapist means that I practice a long-term kind of talk therapy. I really take my time to get to know you. We’ll talk about everything from dreams to disappointments, including our developing relationship.
FYI, this kind of therapy can sometimes feel awkward and uncomfortable. That's okay and totally expected! We will take our time and discover the best way for us to work together. As a result, we learn a lot about you through our interactions.