Forest Oaks counselor opens private practice

After working as an elementary school counselor for over 20 years, Chelsea resident Cindy Smith decided to have a plan for after her school retirement: a private counseling practice.

“As I got closer to retirement, I began thinking,” Smith said. “I’m still going to be really young and knew I needed to still do something. We will still have a child in college and weddings to pay for.”

When her oldest daughter headed to Mississippi State in September 2017, instead of sulking and being sad about it, Smith decided to look at this as time for herself. She began her professional licensing process, and completed it in October 2019.

Since she already had a masters degree, Smith didn’t have to take any more classes, but instead get additional certification. For two years, she met with a counseling supervisor every week. Coming from a school setting, Smith had to learn what a private practice would look like, including billing, insurance, keeping case notes and more.

“It was wonderful,” Smith said. “It turned into almost counseling for me. After the end of two years, I collected all the hours and to become a licensed professional counselor.”

This allowed Smith to move forward and begin her private practice: Chelsea Family Counseling Services.

She began seeing clients last summer as she continues to grow her business. Many of her referrals come from other school counselors and she signed up for Psychology Today where she also gets referrals from there also.

When she returns to her position at Forest Oaks Elementary this fall, she will begin her 24th year of school counseling. She has previously been a counselor at Leeds Middle School, Banks Middle School and Moody Junior High. For the past 16 years, she has been in Chelsea schools (Chelsea Elementary, which then became the intermediate school then Forest Oaks Elementary).

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Smith did her sessions via teletherapy, but does have an office space in Eagle Point. Once she resumes her school schedule, she will see several clients in the afternoons after school several days each week.

Following the family practice model, Smith said she believes that no amount of counseling will be effective if the entire family is not onboard.

“A lot of times, children’s issues (unfortunately) are because of the parents,” she said. “It could be due to lax boundaries, that’s probably the number one issue."

Also for kids who have clinical mental health disorders, she helps educate the family on the best ways to handle those. "A lot of times I meet with the adolescent for 30 minutes then meet with the parents for 30 minutes so I can give them tips and suggestions.”

For those wondering when is the right time to seek professional counseling, Smith says when it starts to hinder the quality of life of the child or family. Other reasons can conclude childhood wounds or the loss of a loved one not properly grieved.

“It could be a million different things,” she said. “I think everyone needs counseling.”

Teenage girls are the bulk of Smith’s caseload. Since she has two older daughters, ages 18 and 21, she said that works out well. She specializes in anxiety and depression. One of her daughters started suffering from anxiety in 4th grade, and she said that seeing a counselor was life changing for her and their whole family.

So far, Smith says her private practice has been “so rewarding.”

“When you have a client coming into a counseling relationship willing and motivated to be an active participant, it changes everything,” she said. "The school setting can be that way, but a lot of times it’s not. In a private setting, you can be brutally honest with people and be more up front. That, and not getting interrupted.”

Smith offers video, phone and in person sessions. To contact her, call (205) 902-3481.