About

My name is Stephanie Smith. I am a Licensed Clinical and Forensic Psychologist (LP) in the state of Minnesota. I received my doctorate in clinical forensic psychology in 2015 at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology in Chicago, Illinois. During school, I had the opportunity to provide psychological services: therapy and evaluation in a wide range of settings. I've worked in short-term and long-term psychiatric hospitals, residential treatment facilities, and college counseling. I completed my pre and post-doctoral internships in Texas, working in state-run inpatient psychiatric facilities. In my current position, I work at a county-owned community mental health center conducting therapy for individuals across the life span and psychological assessments for various departments in county government, including court-ordered psychological evaluations to determine competency to proceed, insanity, and other psycho-legal questions posed by the court.

Due to the unique nature of the populations I serve, my therapeutic interventions have evolved to best meet their needs. I consider myself to be an existential therapist; that is, I believe that we are all responsible for creating our own value and meaning in our lives. I strive to help my clients own their stories and use them to their advantage, rather than victims of their circumstances. I want to empower survivors to seize the power that has been thwarted due to systemic injustice, abusive/neglectful childhoods, and the everyday traumas of day-to-day existence. I am adept at working with individuals who have interfaced with the criminal justice system, experienced trauma, and have lost their voice. I have training in evidence-based practices such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and Narrative Therapy. I treat each client I serve as an individual and tailor therapeutic interventions to meet my clients' goals.

With over 10 years of experience as a woman of color in the mental health field, I believe it is crucial to have therapists that understand your unique life experience and reflect your values. It is essential to remain curious about individuals who may not look or think like us, but from whom we can learn more about ourselves and how we view others and the world. Whether you've been in therapy all your life, or this is your first time considering it, I am here to meet you where you are at so we can struggle through this thing we call life together.