Symphonie Smith(She/Her/Hers)

Dr. Symphonie Smith is a Licensed Independent Marriage and Family Therapist located in Bowie, MD. Dr. Smith guides clients towards living authentically. Many of her clients feel immense pressure to show up for their friends, family, business, employees, etc. which makes them feel stretched thin. Their own mental health becomes a last priority, as they never have time to tend to their own needs. This can lead to feelings of sadness, loneliness, frustration, and emotional exhaustion. Dr. Smith’s clients also find themselves in conflict with others, though most of the distress comes from an unhealthy internal drive to be perfect, make everyone else happy or push themselves to constantly achieve.

Dr. Smith’s approach to therapy blends the Bowen Family Systems Theory with mindfulness practices. Dr. Smith teaches her clients how to identify what’s happening for them, whether that’s feelings of resentment, disappointment, fear, or other difficult emotions. Clients then develop a practice of grounding themselves and coping with distress, whether that’s through body scans, visualizations, or deep breathing exercises. Dr. Smith encourages clients to become the center of their own worlds, and to build healthier relationships of all kinds. Clients practice clear communication styles and learn how to advocate for their needs, even when they feel like it’s easier to revert to their previous patterns of pleasing people.

Dr. Smith earned a PhD from the University of Akron. She is passionate about providing culturally competent mental health services for individuals of all identities and backgrounds. She often brings conversations about race, power, and privilege into therapy to help clients identify the larger context that they’re in. Her style is compassionate and kind, and she considers it an honor to help clients along their therapy journey.