Therapist
Luciana Smalls
LPC
Compassionate counselor who teaches practical skills
Opens BetterHelp in a new tab. There you can look at online therapy options.
Step 1
- Client-centered focus
- Skill-based tools
- Experience with ADHD
About Luciana
Her style is warm and direct. Sessions tend to combine listening with specific skills and strategies. Luciana aims to help people turn struggles into usable tools for everyday life.
She draws on cognitive behavioral ideas to identify unhelpful thoughts and test new behaviors. Dialectical behavior approaches and mindfulness practices are used to build emotional regulation and reduce reactivity. Motivational interviewing is added when people need support making and keeping life changes.
Clients collaborate with Luciana to create clear, practical plans. She respects diverse backgrounds and sexual orientations while tailoring work to each person’s goals. The focus is on short, doable steps that fit daily routines.
Across nine years as a mental health professional, Luciana has worked with a wide range of concerns including adoption and foster care, blended family issues, caregiver stress, and hospice and end-of-life counseling. Her experience in human services spans over two decades, which informs a practical, strengths-based approach in sessions.
Step 2
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
9+ years
Credentials
South Carolina
Languages
English
Step 3
How specific approaches are used in online work
Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes being listened to and understood. The therapist follows the person's lead, reflecting concerns and helping clarify goals so plans feel meaningful and doable. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at how thoughts and actions link to feelings and teaches straightforward techniques to test new behaviors and ease symptoms.Finding the right approach is part of the process. Luciana collaborates with each person to choose methods that match their needs, goals, and preferences. Together they try strategies, review what helps, and adjust the plan if something isn’t working.
Confirm current session options before booking since formats are not specified here. In general, online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into work or caregiving routines and reduce travel time. Some formats let people use audio-only check-ins when bandwidth is limited or prefer a shorter conversation for a quick skill check. Talk with Luciana about practical needs and scheduling so sessions can be shaped to everyday life.
Step 4
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns are addressed here?
Luciana helps people with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship and parenting issues. She also works with addiction, grief, intimacy concerns, and topics related to intellectual disability.
How would you describe the therapy style?
Sessions are nurturing and sometimes challenging, with a focus on practical skills. The work combines listening with clear strategies people can use between sessions.
What is her clinical background?
She has nine years of experience as a mental health professional and over 20 years in human services. That background shapes a practical, strengths-focused approach.
What credential does she hold and where is she based?
She is a Licensed Professional Counselor, LPC, practicing in South Carolina.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the country work with her?
She is not accepting international clients at this time.
How are costs and billing handled?
Cost varies by location and therapist availability, and sessions are provided through a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule according to therapist availability.
Step 5