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ES Portrait of Elizabeth Smith

Elizabeth Smith

Understanding grief and life transitions

About Elizabeth

Elizabeth Smith is a licensed clinical social worker who brings five years of focused practice to helping people cope with grief and life changes.

Background and approach

She holds Illinois and Iowa licenses as an LCSW and LISW and centers her work on supporting clients through transitions that can trigger profound emotional responses. Her practice attends to mood disorders, panic attacks, social anxiety, caregiver stress, and feelings of isolation while also addressing guilt, shame, and issues around forgiveness.

Her therapeutic stance is compassionate and client-centered, emphasizing collaboration and practical coping strategies tailored to each person’s needs. Using evidence-based therapeutic techniques, she guides clients toward building resilience and developing tools to manage distressing symptoms.

Sessions aim to strengthen emotional awareness, reduce the intensity of panic or depressive symptoms, and help clients navigate the adjustments that follow life losses or major changes. Elizabeth provides care in English and sees clients in Illinois.

She offers a range of session formats to fit various schedules, and her practice focuses on creating a respectful, nonjudgmental environment where clients can explore emotions and work toward recovery at a pace that feels right for them.

Evidence-Based Approaches for Online Healing



Elizabeth draws from evidence-based therapeutic techniques that focus on practical skills and emotional processing. One approach emphasizes behavioral and cognitive strategies to identify unhelpful thought patterns and develop coping skills that reduce symptoms of panic, social anxiety, and mood disturbance. Another approach centers on grief-focused interventions that help clients process loss, explore complex emotions like guilt and shame, and gradually rebuild routines and meaning after a major life change.

Finding the right therapeutic approach is part of the work together. She collaborates with each client to evaluate which methods best match their goals, needs, and personal preferences, and adapts techniques over time to fit what proves most helpful in sessions.

Online therapy with Elizabeth is offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to provide flexibility for different schedules and comfort levels. These options make it easier to maintain continuity of care during periods of change and allow clients to engage in therapy from locations that work for them, while still working with licensed professionals committed to evidence-based practice.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does Elizabeth commonly address?
She works with grief and coping with life changes and also focuses on caregiver stress, forgiveness, guilt and shame, isolation and loneliness, mood disorders, panic disorder and social anxiety.
What is her therapeutic style and approach?
The approach is client-centered and compassionate, drawing on evidence-based therapeutic techniques to build coping strategies and emotional resilience.
How much clinical experience does she have?
Elizabeth has five years of professional experience practicing as a licensed clinical social worker.
Which credentials and location apply to her practice?
She holds LCSW and LISW credentials with IL LCSW 149.031429 and IA LISW 086007 and practices in Illinois.
Does she offer services in other languages or to international clients?
Sessions are available in English, and she is not currently accepting international clients.
What session formats are available with her?
Appointments can be scheduled as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to suit different preferences.
How is cost handled for sessions?
Cost varies by location and therapist availability and sessions are provided through a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What are the steps to begin working with her?
Begin by selecting the Start Therapy button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and then scheduling according to her availability.