Dr. Elyssa Smith Ph.D., LPC, NCC, RPT-S, ACS

My Background & Approach:

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor & Psychotherapist, Approved Clinical Supervisor, Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor, and Scholar. I approach the counseling process by building a strong therapeutic alliance and strive to join clients in discovering their needs and desires. I draw upon a psychodynamic framework and my post-graduate continuing education from the Philadelphia School of Psychoanalysis. Additionally, I completed specialized play therapy training, earning a Mindfulness-Based Play Family Therapy certification.

Before starting this practice, I provided play therapy to children (ages 3-18) and families across various settings including schools, community centers, group private practice, and partial hospitalization programs.

Beyond my clinical practice, I served as a tenure-track core faculty member in a graduate-level counseling program, contributing to the training, education, and supervision of future therapists. I am an active member and leader in the field, and my research has been featured in top-tier peer-reviewed journals.