Kristen Smith, MD - AMITA Health Alexian Brothers Center

I believe that everyone can benefit from therapy. We are all ultimately searching for purpose and meaning and our values are our compass for navigating a more meaningful life. In my experience people usually come to therapy because they want something in their life to be different and they are struggling to figure out how to make that happen; whether an individual is seeking to manage symptoms they are experiencing, make difficult decisions, strengthen their relationships with others and themselves, or to just have the support of someone that accepts them exactly as they are while they work through their challenges. I believe my role is to provide the safety and support needed for people grow and learn about themselves in ways that help them achieve their goals.

"I believe in empowering clients to utilize their strengths and develop new skills. My role as a therapist is not to fix client's problems but rather to help them work through issues in order to become better able to make healthy decisions. I also believe that it is impossible to effectively understand and treat a person without looking at the environment around him or her and all the factors that impact that person's experience in the world. I generally work from a Cognitive-Behavioral approach, but tailor my treatment to fit each client's specific needs."

While my philosophy is influenced by a variety of theoretical models (cognitive-behavioral, solution-focused and Adlerian Therapy), I do not believe in a "one size fits all" approach. My goal is to help each client discover their own strengths, and gain a new perspective and the confidence to reach goals for a healthy lifestyle.