David Smith, LMHC
Therapist in Iowa
David Smith is a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC) in Iowa with 25 years of clinical experience.
- License 00254 · Iowa Expires September 2026
- NPI 1508370198 · national registry
- Experience and languages 25+ years in practice English
Details are as listed on the therapist's public professional profile. You can check any license with the state board and any NPI with the national registry.
About David
David Smith is a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC) in Iowa with 25 years of clinical experience. He aims to help people who feel stuck by focusing on practical steps and clear goals. He presents as accessible and down-to-earth, and he encourages clients to use their existing strengths to make change.
He helps people with stress, anxiety, depression, anger, relationship struggles, and major life changes. He also works with concerns like communication problems, commitment issues, substance use, and family of origin difficulties.
Background and approach
He supports those facing aging and geriatric questions, fatherhood challenges, first responder stress, and feelings of emptiness, guilt, or shame. In session he mixes approaches to fit each person’s needs. He uses tools from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to identify unhelpful thinking and from acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) to clarify values and build action.
He also draws on client-centered and existential ideas to keep the work grounded in what matters to the individual, and he uses elements of the Gottman Method when relationship skills are the focus. Sessions tend to be pragmatic and goal-oriented, with regular check-ins about progress. He believes therapy is a collaboration where the client’s experience guides adjustments to the plan.
That way, people can try new ways of thinking and behaving and see what works for them. His style favors honesty and direct feedback while remaining empathic. He invites prospective clients to consider what they want to change and to take the first step toward more satisfying relationships and daily life.
Credentials
- LMHC (Iowa)
- License 00254 · expires September 2026
- NPI
- 1508370198 · national provider identifier
Both are public records. A state board register will confirm a license and its standing, and the national registry will confirm an NPI. This directory copies what the therapist lists and checks neither.
Focus areas and approaches
Everything David lists on their public professional profile, in their own terms.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Anger management
- Depression
- Coping with life changes
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Attachment issues
- Codependency
- Commitment issues
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Divorce and separation
- Drug and alcohol addiction
- Emptiness
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- Fatherhood issues
- First responder issues
- Forgiveness
- Guilt and shame
- Infidelity
- Isolation / loneliness
- Life purpose
- Men's issues
- Midlife crisis
- Money and financial issues
- Mood disorders
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Self-love
- Sex addiction
- Sexuality
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Workplace issues
- Young adult issues
Approaches David names
- Gottman Method
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Existential Therapy
- Jungian Therapy
- Mindfulness Therapy
- Motivational Interviewing
- Narrative Therapy
- Psychodynamic Therapy
- Solution-Focused Therapy
- Systemic Therapy
These are the approaches David names on their own professional profile. Naming an approach is not evidence of training or certification in it, and this directory checks no training records. Ask directly if it matters to you.
Online support
How approaches like Gottman, ACT, and CBT work online
Gottman-influenced work focuses on concrete relationship skills such as communication, conflict management, and rebuilding trust. Online sessions can use those same exercises and in-session coaching to practice new ways of talking and listening. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people clarify what matters to them and commit to small actions aligned with those values, which is useful for anxiety, depression, and life transitions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) identifies unhelpful thoughts and teaches practical skills to shift thinking and behavior, often with homework between sessions.Finding the right approach is part of the therapy process. The therapist will collaborate with each client to see which methods match their goals, needs, and comfort level. That means trying techniques, checking progress, and adjusting the focus together so the work stays relevant and useful.
Online therapy offers practical flexibility. Video calls let the therapist and client use visual cues and screen-shared exercises. Phone sessions work well when bandwidth is limited or a shorter check-in is needed. Live chat and text-based messaging are helpful for brief updates, tracking progress, or when a written reflection feels easier. These options make it simpler to fit sessions into a busy life while still doing meaningful therapeutic work.
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Frequently asked
What concerns does he commonly address?
He works with stress, anxiety, relationship issues, anger, depression, and coping with life changes, plus related topics like communication problems, addiction, and family of origin issues.
What is his therapy style like?
The approach is practical and collaborative, mixing skill-building, values work, and reflective conversation to help clients try new ways of thinking and behaving.
How much experience does he have?
He brings 25 years of professional experience as a licensed mental health counselor working with a broad range of concerns.
What are his credentials and where is he based?
He is an LMHC licensed in Iowa and practices from that state.
Which languages are supported and can international clients join?
Sessions are offered in English and international clients are accepted.
What formats are available for sessions?
He provides video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to fit different schedules and preferences.
How does payment and cost work?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with him?
Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to therapist availability.
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