Shannon E. Smith, LPC-S (LA), LPC/MHSP (TN), NCC
My life’s journey has not followed a straight path. Before beginning my career in counseling, I dedicated 15 years to victim services, working as a professional victim advocate across five states. During this time, I spoke at local and national levels about the profound effects of sexual violence. My passion for addressing issues related to sexual trauma and victimization remains unwavering.
I began my counseling career in 2015 at a group practice. Since that time, I have provided individual and group treatment for individuals convicted of sexual offenses. From 2019 to 2024, I facilitated a process group for survivors of sexual violence, a role that deeply honored and inspired me.
I opened my private practice in the fall of 2020, with a goal to create a warm, accepting, and affirming space, especially for those who often feel "othered."
As a counselor, I am privileged to walk alongside clients on their paths to self-discovery, healing, and wellness. I combine compassion with directness, practicing with an anti-discrimination, anti-oppression, and anti-racist orientation. I deeply value the ways your personal experiences shape your views of yourself, others, and the world. My approach to counseling is integrative, client-centered, trauma-informed, and relational, aiming to support your personal growth and development.
I emphasize non-stigmatizing, non-pathologizing, and compassionate modalities, drawing from:
- Feminist Theory
- Social Justice Approaches
- Polyvagal Theory
- Brainspotting
- Systems Theory
- Emotionally Focused Therapy
- Attachment-Based Therapy
- Parts Work/Internal Family Systems (IFS)
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Mindfulness
In addition to my individual work, I provide off-site group therapy in partnership with local organizations. I offer training and consultation for professionals, students, and service organizations on topics including trauma, interpersonal violence, mental health disorders, gender and sexuality, sex offender management and treatment, and caregiver self-care.
As an expert witness, I have testified on victim behavior, sexual assault reporting procedures, and the effects of trauma. I am also available for consultation to prosecutors seeking insights on these critical issues.
As an LPC Supervisor, I am approved by the LA LPC Board to supervise Provisionally Licensed Professional Counselors (PLPCs). PLPCs must document a minimum of 3,000 hours of post-master's experience in professional mental health counseling and 100 hours of clinical supervision by a board-approved supervisor before they may be fully licensed. If you are interested in LPC Supervision, please click on the Clinical Supervision link under the Services tab. I am no longer accepting student interns.
I am licensed to practice in Tennessee, and I am currently offering therapy services to residents of Tennessee through telehealth. As an LPC/MHSP, I am also available to provide clinical supervision to those seeking the LPC license with Mental Health Service Provider (MHSP) designation. The LPC/MHSP license requires documentation of 3,000 hours of post-master's experience in a clinical setting and 150 hours of clinical supervision by a board-approved supervisor. If you are interested in LPC/MHSP Supervision, please click on the Clinical Supervision link under the Services tab,
Education:
Master of Arts in Education (Community Mental Health Counseling), Louisiana State University, 2015
Licensure & Certification:
Louisiana Licensed Professional Counselor (#6479)
Tennessee Licensed Professional Counselor/Mental Health Service Provider (#8323)
National Certified Counselor (#782021)
Louisiana LPC Board-Approved Telemental Health Provider
Louisiana LPC Board-Approved Supervisor
Associate Professional, Louisiana Registry of Sexual Offender Treatment Providers (LA Act. 848)
Certified Sylvotherapy Practitioner (#25-01088)
Certified in Brainspotting
Specialized Training:
Brainspotting: Phase 1, Phase 2, Master Class, Brainspotting with Relationships & Harmonic Brain Healing
Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFCT): LGBTQ+ EFCT Externship
Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR)
Internal Family Systems (IFS): Healing Trauma & Restoring Wholeness with IFS (taught by Richard Schwartz, Ph.D.)
Sylvotherapy (Forest Therapy)
Professional Memberships:
American Counseling Association (ACA)
Arkansas Association for the Treatment and Prevention of Sexual Abuse (AR-ATSA)
Association for the Treatment and Prevention of Sexual Abuse (ATSA)
Brainspotting Help--Volunteer Coordinator for the Southeast U.S.
Chi Sigma Iota Counseling Academic & Professional Honor Society International; Alpha Chi Chapter (Louisiana State University)
Louisiana Association of Addiction and Offender Counselors (LAAOC)
Louisiana Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (LACES)
Louisiana Counseling Association (LCA)
Louisiana Group Psychotherapy Society (LGPS)
Louisiana Mental Health Counselors Association (LMHCA)
National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC)
Society for Sexual, Affectional, Intersex, & Gender Expansive Identities of Louisiana (SAIGE-LA)--President 2022-2024. Past President 2024-2026
Society for Sexual, Affectional, Intersex & Gender Expansive Identities (SAIGE)
Southeast Brainspotting Institute (SEBI)--Diversity Fellowship recipient 2023-2024, SEBI Diversity Fellowship Committee Member 2024-present, Board Member 2025-present
Tennessee Counseling Association (TCA)
Tennessee Licensed Professional Counselors Association (TLPCA)
The Gender Affirming Letter Access Project (GALAP)
World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH)