Marlene Smith, LPC

Marlene Smith is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) who focuses on everyday struggles like stress, anxiety, low self-esteem, and depression. She helps people talk through relationship concerns and life transitions. Her approach is straightforward and warm, aimed at making a first step feel less overwhelming for someone who is worried or unsure.

She creates a calm space where clients can say what they think and feel without judgment. Sessions emphasize understanding thought patterns and daily habits that get in the way. Conversations tend to be practical and goal-oriented, with time spent on small changes that add up over weeks.

Marlene draws on several therapy approaches, including Attachment-Based work, Client-Centered methods, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and Emotionally-Focused Therapy. Those approaches guide how she listens and suggests strategies rather than promising a set outcome.

With three years as an LPC in West Virginia, she brings recent hands-on experience helping people navigate issues like communication problems, commitment concerns, body image, and coping with major life events. She also supports people affected by adoption or foster care challenges and by serious health issues such as cancer.

Her style is collaborative and direct. She helps clients notice unhelpful thought patterns and build practical habits that support mood and relationships. If you want a therapist who focuses on thoughts and everyday habits, Marlene offers that emphasis and will work with you to set clear, manageable goals.

Approaches that guide online work

Attachment-Based Therapy looks at how early bonds influence current relationships and emotional responses. It can help people understand why certain patterns show up in close relationships and reduce repeated cycles of conflict or withdrawal.

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on the person's experience in the moment and emphasizes being heard without judgment. This approach helps people gain clarity about their feelings and build self-trust through open, respectful conversation.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) targets the link between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It provides concrete strategies to challenge unhelpful thoughts and build new daily habits that support mood and functioning.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will talk with each person about goals, preferences, and what has or hasn’t helped before, then recommend a mix of approaches that fits. That decision is a collaboration and can be adjusted as progress is made.

Confirm available session formats before booking, since the biography does not list specific online or in-person options. Many people find online sessions useful because they can fit appointments into a busy day, avoid travel time, or choose shorter check-ins when needed. Ask about the exact session options when you schedule to make sure they match your needs.