Casey Smith, LCSW - Therapist at Grow Therapy

Casey Smith

Casey Smith

(he/him)

LCSW
12 years of experience
Virtual

Are you ready to reclaim your story and rediscover your zest for life? This is therapy for those who want to silence the voices that have held them back, embrace their unique journey, and become fierce advocates for themselves and the causes they believe in. If you're tired of feeling unheard, unfulfilled, or disconnected from your purpose, therapy can help you reclaim your power, communicate confidently, set boundaries, and rediscover your joy. This journey is especially transformative if you're an advocate for social justice, inspired by a family legacy of activism, or seeking to integrate your personal experiences with passion.

What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?

In our initial session, I will focus on getting to know you deeply and holistically. We will explore: Your current situation: Understanding where you are in your life, including your daily routines, relationships, and any immediate concerns or stressors. Your goals and dreams: Discuss where you want to go and what you hope to achieve, both in the short term and long term. This includes personal, professional, and emotional aspirations. Your challenges and obstacles: Identify any barriers that might be in your way, whether they are internal (like fears or doubts) or external (like financial or social constraints). Your strengths and resources: Highlighting what you already have that can help you on your journey, such as personal qualities, supportive relationships, and available resources. Your morals and values: Understanding what principles guide your life and decisions. This includes your core beliefs, ethical standards, and what you consider most important. Your experiences: Talking about what has happened in your life and what hasn’t. This includes significant life events, traumas, achievements, and missed opportunities. Your skills: Recognizing the skills you possess, both those you use regularly and those you might not have fully tapped into yet. Nothing is off the table. I want to talk about everything that matters to you. My aim is for you to feel truly heard and understood. I aim to be genuinely transformative with you from the moment we start. I want you to feel as if you have my undivided attention and that we can navigate through anything together.

Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.

One of my greatest strengths is my unique and rich personal history, which has shaped my practice and my heart. Adopted at 20 by a loving gay hippie who protested in the 1960s, my life since then has been filled with colorful tapestries, the sounds of protest songs, and the warmth of a home where everyone was welcome. My adoptive parent, a true pioneer, instilled in me a profound sense of empathy, acceptance, and the importance of community. He and his family have thus impacted me into a world of creativity and open-mindedness, nestled within a close-knit community that thrived on music, art, and activism. It was here that I learned the importance of self-expression, celebrating individuality, and standing up for what's right, especially for those in the LGBTQ+ community and other marginalized groups. Because of this, I deeply believe that each of us has a sense of artistry, activism, and free spirit, and we are just waiting to come out. In addition, my birth parents, both disabled and the rest of my birth family are clam diggers with their hands weathered by the tides, but their spirits were strong as the sea taught me about how resilient and determination in the face of hardship - including ableism and socioeconomic challenges - can leave an indelible mark on your life. I More so, my journey has been further enriched by my loving female partner being legally blind. Witnessing their strength and resilience in navigating a world that isn't always designed with accessibility in mind has deepened my understanding of the human experience and inspired me to be a more compassionate and inclusive therapist. All of these aspects have given me a deep appreciation for the resilience of the human spirit and the unique struggles faced by individuals from all walks of life. In my practice, my aim is to create a safe and welcoming space where LGBTQ+ individuals and other marginalized groups can heal and grow. I believe in having open, honest conversations, exploring even the most difficult experiences, and always placing the responsibility for harm where it belongs. My hope is that, together, we can navigate life's complexities, foster resilience, and forge genuine connections. A key strength lies in my profound understanding of the privilege I hold as a white cis male, and my unwavering commitment to leveraging this privilege to advocate for meaningful change. I have actively worked to reform state laws, champion universal healthcare, protect reproductiv

About Casey Smith

Identifies as

Specializes in

Crisis InterventionFamily TherapyFoster Care/AdoptionLGBTQSelf EsteemTrauma and PTSD

Licensed in

Appointments

Virtual

My treatment methods

Relational

I use Relational-Cultural Theory (RCT) to guide our work together. My approach emphasizes the importance of relationships and mutual empathy, creating a supportive environment where we can explore your experiences as a team. Together, we'll reclaim your zest for life, navigate hard conversations, and solve problems from a trauma-informed perspective. By working collaboratively, we can build resilience and achieve personal transformation.

Experiential Therapy

I’m passionate about helping individuals discover and maximize their best selves through experiential therapy techniques. My approach is rooted in the belief that therapy should be an engaging, dynamic process that goes beyond traditional talk therapy. I strive to create a collaborative and supportive environment where clients can explore their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in a safe and non-judgmental space. One of the unique aspects of my practice is my use of movies, TIk-Tok, current events, and your day-to-day experinces as therapeutic tools. I believe that these mediums can provide powerful insights and reflections on our own lives. By discussing characters, plotlines, and real-world scenarios, clients can gain new perspectives and develop a deeper understanding of their own experiences. This approach not only makes therapy more relatable but also helps clients connect with their emotions and thoughts in a meaningful way. In our sessions, we might watch a movie clip that resonates with your current struggles or discuss a recent news event that has impacted you. These discussions can open up new avenues for self-reflection and growth, allowing you to see your challenges from different angles and find creative solutions. Whether it’s exploring themes of resilience in a favorite film or analyzing the emotional impact of a current event, these experiential techniques can be incredibly effective in fostering personal growth and healing. I also integrate other experiential methods such as role-playing, guided imagery, and creative arts to help clients express themselves and work through their issues. My goal is to support you in your journey towards self-discovery and empowerment, helping you to unlock your full potential and live a more fulfilling life. My goal is for us to work together to explore your inner world and find the best ways to maximize your strengths and achieve your goals.

Trauma-Focused CBT

This approach is grounded in the idea that our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are interconnected, and by changing how we think, we can change how we feel and act. However, I also recognize that healing from trauma is not something that can be done in isolation. This is where relational cultural theory comes in. This theory posits that growth and healing occur through connection with others. It supports the idea that we are not alone in our experiences and that sharing our stories within a supportive environment can be incredibly powerful. I also use some narrative therapy techniques that complement this by helping clients reframe their experiences and see themselves as the authors of their own stories. By externalizing problems and viewing them as separate from their identity, clients can gain a new perspective on their trauma and begin to rewrite their narratives in a way that empowers them. An essential part of this process is helping you develop or have hard conversations. This means supporting you in resolving conflicts or situations that constructively challenge your values rather than avoiding them. Part of this process is placing blame in the right place, which is crucial for healing. Often, individuals who have experienced trauma may internalize blame, believing that they are at fault for what happened to them. Through our work together, we aim to shift this perspective, helping clients understand that the responsibility for the trauma lies with the perpetrator, not themselves. This shift includes understanding the oppressive, cultural, environmental, and structural impacts on us and recognizing the impact. This broader perspective can be incredibly liberating and is a vital step in healing. By integrating relational cultural theory, narrative therapy, and the principles of having hard conversations and placing blame appropriately into my trauma-focused CBT practice, I help clients see that their trauma does not define them and that they are not alone in their struggles. This collaborative approach allows clients to feel seen, heard, and understood, fostering a sense of empowerment and resilience. Through this combined approach, I aim to create a safe and supportive space where clients can explore their trauma, challenge negative beliefs, and build meaningful connections with others. My goal is to help clients heal from their past and thrive in their present and future.