Johanna Smith, MS, LPCC

Hello! I'm Johanna, a Licensed Professional Counselor Candidate (LPCC) at Empowering Hope.

I earned my Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Walden University and am a Licensed Professional Counselor Candidate (LPCC.0024633) in Colorado.

I work with adults (18+) experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma and PTSD, grief, relationship challenges, stress, self-esteem concerns, and major life transitions. I also enjoy supporting members of the LGBTQ+ community and individuals navigating religious trauma or faith transitions.

Whether you're facing a difficult season, healing from past experiences, or exploring questions of identity and purpose, therapy can provide a space to better understand yourself and move forward with greater clarity and confidence.

My hope is to create a therapeutic relationship built on openness, curiosity, and respect where you feel safe exploring your experiences while developing the insight and skills to create meaningful, lasting change. Change begins with understanding ourselves - who we are is shaped by both our innate qualities and our life experiences. While those influences help form us, they do not define who we become. As we develop greater self-awareness, we gain the healing and freedom to make intentional choices that align with our values, strengthen our relationships, and move toward the life we want to build. 

My role is to provide a supportive, collaborative space where clients can feel heard, seen, and empowered throughout that process. Some of the most meaningful moments in therapy happen when you begin to see yourself through a new lens and together we'll explore the thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and patterns that may no longer be serving you, creating greater clarity and opening the door to meaningful growth. The goal of our work together is to help you better understand yourself so you can find healing and make intentional choices that support the life you want to build.

My approach is collaborative, evidence-based, trauma-informed, and goal-oriented. I primarily utilize Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) while integrating person-centered techniques and polyvagal-informed concepts to better understand the connection between your thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and nervous system. Because every person brings a unique story, I believe therapy should be tailored to the individual rather than follow a one-size-fits-all approach.