What patients are saying
Overall rating
5.00
About Richard Smith
Clientele seen
Adults (25-64)
Individuals
Treatment approaches
Cognitive Processing (CPT)
Interpersonal
Culturally Sensitive
Multicultural
Dialectical (DBT)
Person-Centered
Identity
Gender
MaleLanguages spoken
English
Getting to know Richard Smith
Teaching and coaching are strong passions of mine. Becoming a therapist provided me with the opportunity to do both. My journey to becoming a therapist was not linear. It started during a personal training session with one of my clients years ago. She started to open up about her life and began to cry. Aside from the empathetic ear, I felt like I didn’t have the skillset to help her. After talking to different individuals in the helping professions, I learned that counseling is what I was looking for. At one time in my life I wanted to be a physical therapist to aid people in restoring something they lost. As a psychotherapist I learned I could still help with restoration in addition to helping clients cultivate something they may have never had.
What should a new client know about working with you?
Those who work with me can expect collaboration coupled with considerate care. One thing that stood out to me in my DBT training was the principle of the customer and the mechanic. We don't see the mechanic as being superior just because they have the skills needed for fixing the car. The same can be said for the therapeutic relationship. I happen to have a skillset that I get to share with clients as they make repairs and alterations to their lives. I was doing trauma work with a client and she used a metaphor that I liked for our relationship. "Richard, you're like the teacher in driver's ed. I get to determine where the car is going and you get to use the brakes when I'm moving too quickly". My collaboration comes with responsibility to my clients. We can get to where you want and I want us to arrive safely. One of the most caring things I can do is challenge my clients when appropriate. I ask clients to leverage their trust in me and the trust they're cultivating for themselves as we approach topics that have kept them stuck for some time.
What is your typical process for working with clients?
The impact of systems and environmental failures are often overlooked when clients are assessing how they got to where they are in life. This oversight of factors beyond the individual often results in a sense of shame that is both valid and unjustified. I work with individuals who have experienced trauma, are struggling with depression or anxiety, and those who struggle with relationships -whether it's with others or themselves. I also work with individuals experiencing suicidality or engaging in self-injurious behavior. The therapeutic process can be compared to an excavation site where the client is an archeologist. We see something on the surface that suggests there is something underneath. We dig and explore to see what is there while carefully examining what we discover on the way.
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In-network insurances
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Education and background
Practice names
Education and training
- Governors State University, Master's in Counseling
NPI number
1811560162
Patient reviews
All reviews have been submitted by patients after interacting with the practice.
Overall rating
5.00
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1 review
Most relevant
Less than 1 year agoInitials hiddenSource: Partner
How soon can I make an appointment with Richard Smith?
Generally, Richard Smith has appointments available on Zocdoc within 1 week. You can see Richard Smith's earliest availability on Zocdoc and make an appointment online.
Is Richard Smith accepting new patients?
Richard Smith generally accepts new patients on Zocdoc. You can see Richard Smith's earliest availability on Zocdoc and schedule an appointment online.
Does Richard Smith accept my insurance?
Choose your insurance plan to verify if Richard Smith is in-network.
Can I make an appointment with Richard Smith online?
Yes, you can make an appointment online with Richard Smith using Zocdoc. It’s simple, secure, and free.
What practice does Richard Smith work with?
Richard Smith works with Sage Therapy Chicago, PLLC.
What are common reasons for patients to see Richard Smith?
Richard Smith frequently sees patients for Depression, New Patient Visit, Psychotherapy, Psychotherapy Intake / Initial Visit, and Therapy. You can see other visit reasons for Richard Smith on their profile.
What languages does Richard Smith speak?
Richard Smith speaks English.