Originally from South Africa, I graduated from Vanderbilt University in 2016. My training was in Human Development Counseling with a focus on early childhood development and attachment. Prior to completing my graduate degree, I lived and traveled abroad, had a variety of interesting and not so interesting jobs, met people from different walks of life, and always felt destined to return to school to become a therapist. In my free time I enjoy creative writing, running, and spending as much time as I can with my daughter.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
Our first session will be collaboratively focused on building rapport, in getting to know you and the parts you bring to session, and in discussing what you would like to gain from our time together.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
Being person centered is important to me, which means meeting you where you are “at” and creating a safe space by showing unconditional positive regard. I am authentic in my relationships and can be direct. I am growth and insight oriented and like to learn with my clients.
Describe the client(s) you are best positioned to serve.
Interested in all things human, I have experience in working with trauma, substance abuse, anxiety, depression, emotional regulation, and relationship difficulties. My special interests are trauma, grief, and anxiety and I have completed trainings in EMDR, IFS, CBT for Anxiety, and Mindfulness.
About Hilda Smits
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Address
1518 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102, Suite 607Appointments
Virtual & in-personMy treatment methods
EMDR
As a clinician I was trained in EMDR in 2019 and became EMDR certified in 2023. In my work as a trauma therapist I find EMDR to be very helpful in processing traumatic events that were previously hard to digest and continue to impact on day to day life. Personally I've undergone EMDR therapy myself and found it to be tremendously helpful in significantly reducing shame, reducing triggers, and shifting some pretty persistent negative core beliefs.
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
I completed my IFS training in 2023 and found it profoundly helpful, both personally and professionally. I consider IFS a core part of my therapeutic approach as it provides a base from which to extend curiosity, grow awareness, and provide relief to parts that may be stuck in trauma time and assumed managerial/adult roles during childhood. Things that I like about IFS is that it is non-pathologizing, integrative (body/mind), and transformative in that we can notice experiential shifts happening in session.