PROVISIONALLY LICENSED CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER
Takyah Smith
Therapist for Trauma, Alcohol and Cannabis Use, Anxiety, and Burnout.
Pronouns: She/Her
Licensure: Provisional LCSW
Location: Rhode Island
Languages: English
Accepting New Clients: Yes
Sliding Scale: Yes
Insurance: BCBS, United, Tufts, Neighborhood Health Plan, Aetna, United Student Health Resources and Medicaid
About Takyah
As a dedicated therapist at Phoenix Rising Centers, I bring a unique blend of public health expertise and a passion for mental wellness to my practice. My journey, rooted in my experiences as a first-generation American of Caribbean descent from Miami, has shaped my commitment to serving adolescents, young adults, and middle-aged individuals from diverse backgrounds.
With a Bachelor's in Health Sciences Pre-Clinical and Psychology from the University of Central Florida, a Master's in Public Health from the University of South Florida, and a Master's in Social Work, my academic foundation is as diverse as the communities I serve. My professional health education and promotion background, focusing on marginalized populations, youth, and young adults, informs my holistic approach to mental health care.
I specialize in addressing a wide range of concerns, including alcohol and cannabis use, anger management, anxiety, depression, burnout, and social communication challenges. My practice is deeply rooted in the principles of Black Liberation, Decolonization, and Disability Justice, reflecting both my professional interests and lived experiences.
My therapeutic approach integrates evidence-based practices such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Motivational Interviewing with somatic therapy techniques. I'm particularly passionate about tackling socioeconomic inequity, poverty, and self-esteem issues, while always considering the interplay between individuals, environments, power structures, and societal norms.
As an advocate for expanding representation in mental health services, I strive to create a safe, inclusive, and culturally affirming space for racial and ethnic minorities. My work is informed by an ecological viewpoint, drawing on my diverse academic and professional backgrounds in public health and social work.
Whether you're struggling with relationship issues, battling addiction, or seeking support in overcoming systemic barriers, I'm here to provide compassionate, culturally competent care. Together, we'll work towards not just personal transformation but also contribute to the larger mission of dismantling oppressive systems and promoting mental health equity for all.
Outside of my professional life, I enjoy traveling, exploring new cuisines, spending time with family and friends, photography, and watching movies. These experiences enrich my perspective and allow me to connect more deeply with the diverse individuals I serve.
Her professional growth and clinical practice are under the direct supervision and guidance of Kayley Harrington, a licensed independent clinical social worker (LICSW).
Specialties
Alcohol Use, Cannabis Use, Smoking / Tobacco Use
Anxiety, Social Anxiety, Depression, Burnout
Anger, Relationships
Self-Esteem / Worth / Compassion, Social Communication
Socioeconomic Inequity, Poverty
Counseling
Areas of Focus
Black Liberation
Decolonization/Decoloniality
Disability Justice
Peer Support
Racial
Modalities
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Motivational Interviewing
Somatic Therapy
Lived Identity
and Experience
Black African Diaspora
Why I Do This Work
“I do this work because I believe healing is a birthright—not a privilege. My hope is to create space where people of color, queer folks, and those who’ve been silenced by systems can come home to themselves, not through perfection, but through truth, softness, and the courage to begin again.”
- Takyah Smith 
My Approach in Practice
My practice is shaped by the belief that healing does not happen in isolation, it happens in context. Whether you're navigating personal challenges, systemic oppression, or intergenerational trauma, I work to create a space where you can explore the full complexity of your story without judgment.
With a foundation in public health and clinical social work, I bring a layered perspective to therapy that acknowledges how mental health is shaped by systems, environments, and histories, not just individual behavior. I integrate cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing, and somatic-based tools to support practical coping, while also holding space for deeper questions around identity, self-worth, and survival.
My work is deeply informed by Black Liberation, Decolonization, and Disability Justice. These frameworks guide me in helping clients unpack internalized messages of inadequacy, confront the impacts of racism, ableism, and poverty, and reconnect with their own power and agency. I strive to be present with you, not as an authority, but as a witness, advocate, and partner in your growth.
What Clients Often Come to Me For
Clients often reach out when they are:
Overwhelmed by systems that weren’t built for them
Looking for support navigating burnout, racial stress, or poverty-related stressors.
Trying to reduce alcohol or cannabis use
In ways that feel sustainable, non-shaming, and grounded in their real-life circumstances.
Struggling with anxiety, disconnection, or emotional shutdown
After years of pushing through, people-pleasing, or staying in survival mode.
Looking to reclaim joy, identity, or self-worth
After feeling erased by school, family, work, or society at large.
Exploring how oppression, trauma, and culture show up in their body
Wanting tools to feel safer, more whole, and more regulated.
Craving care that doesn’t expect them to compartmentalize
Their race, gender, queerness, spirituality, disability, or any part of their story.
In my work, I meet people navigating the weight of both personal and structural challenges. Whether you're confronting cycles of harm, seeking accountability and healing, or simply learning how to rest, this is a space where your voice matters and your truth is honored. We go at your pace, together.