Deborah Smart, LMHC
Experienced Florida Licensed Mental Health Counselor
- Trauma and mood disorders
- Warm collaborative approach
- Offers online sessions
About Deborah Smart
Deborah Smart is a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC) based in Florida who brings an educational background and decades of clinical experience to her work. She earned a BS in Education, an M.Ed. in School Counseling, and an MA in Mental Health Counseling - the latter being a master level training focused on clinical assessment and therapeutic intervention. Over a 22-year career she has practiced in a variety of counseling settings and gained focused experience with trauma, depression, anxiety, mood disorders, and family-related challenges.
Her practice emphasizes connection, warmth, and collaboration. She believes healing grows from understanding both past and present pain, and she uses evidence-based methods - including attachment-informed work, cognitive and emotion-focused strategies, and skills-based interventions - to help clients move toward greater clarity, purpose, and functioning. For those who prefer faith-informed support, she incorporates Christian Counseling into her approach when requested.
Deborah helps people strengthen communication, listen with intention, and take practical steps to relieve emotional discomfort. She offers flexible scheduling and encourages prospective clients to share times that work for them; she will do her very best to find morning, afternoon, or evening appointments and personally schedule those sessions.
Her practice emphasizes connection, warmth, and collaboration. She believes healing grows from understanding both past and present pain, and she uses evidence-based methods - including attachment-informed work, cognitive and emotion-focused strategies, and skills-based interventions - to help clients move toward greater clarity, purpose, and functioning. For those who prefer faith-informed support, she incorporates Christian Counseling into her approach when requested.
Deborah helps people strengthen communication, listen with intention, and take practical steps to relieve emotional discomfort. She offers flexible scheduling and encourages prospective clients to share times that work for them; she will do her very best to find morning, afternoon, or evening appointments and personally schedule those sessions.
Areas of Expertise
Primary Focus
Also Specializes In
Family conflictsIntimacy-related issuesParenting issuesAnger managementSelf esteemCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCoping with life changesCoachingCompassion fatigueADHD
Additional Focus Areas
Aging and geriatric issuesBlended family issuesCaregiver issues and stressCommunication problemsControl issuesDivorce and separationEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsForgivenessGuilt and shameInfidelityIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeMidlife crisisVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMood disordersPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressSelf-loveSocial anxiety and phobiaWomen's issuesYoung adult issues
Therapeutic Approach
Attachment-Based Therapy Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) Mindfulness Therapy Solution-Focused Therapy Trauma-Focused Therapy
Frequently Asked Questions
How much experience does Deborah Smart have?
Deborah Smart has 22 years of experience.
Is Deborah Smart a licensed therapist?
Yes. She holds the credential LMHC (Licensed Mental Health Counselor). License details: FL LMHC MH11155.
In which languages does Deborah Smart provide therapy?
Deborah Smart provides therapy in English.
Where is Deborah Smart located?
She is located in Florida.
How can I work with Deborah Smart as my therapist?
You can work with Deborah Smart through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging.
Does Deborah Smart work with international clients?
Deborah Smart does not currently work with international clients.
How much does therapy with Deborah Smart cost?
The cost of therapy can vary depending on factors such as your location and the therapist's availability. Sessions are billed through a subscription that can be canceled at any time, for any reason. For current details, just click the "Start Therapy" button on this page.
How can I get started with therapy?
Getting started with therapy is quick and straightforward. Just click the "Start Therapy" button and complete a short questionnaire that helps match you with your therapist. Depending on availability, you can then schedule your first session, which may take place by phone, video call, live chat, or in-app messaging.
Attachment, Cognitive Work, and Skills-Based Care Online
Deborah integrates Attachment-Based Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) into online work to address relationship patterns, thought-driven distress, and emotional regulation. Attachment-based work explores how early and current relationships shape expectations and communication, helping clients change long-standing interaction patterns that affect intimacy and family life. CBT focuses on identifying and shifting unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, offering practical tools to reduce anxiety, depression, and stress. DBT teaches concrete skills for managing intense emotions, improving interpersonal effectiveness, and tolerating distress in healthier ways.Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Deborah partners with each person to assess needs, goals, and preferences, and she adapts techniques from these therapies to create a tailored plan that fits the client's situation and pace.
Online sessions are offered via video calls, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to increase flexibility and access. These options make it easier to fit therapy into busy schedules, maintain continuity during life transitions, and engage in regular work on goals from wherever the client is located within accepted regions. Licensed professionals can apply these approaches effectively in virtual formats while keeping the focus on meaningful, practical progress.