Takyah Smith
Adolescents & Adults Therapist
Pronouns: She/her
Licensure: Provisionally Licensed Clinical Social Worker & Therapist
Location: Rhode Island
Language: English
Fee:
Sliding Scale: Available
Insurance:
Accepting New Clients: Yes
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
ABOUT ME
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).
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.
-
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing, Somatic Therapy
-
Black Liberation, Decolonization/Decoloniality, Disability Justice, Peer Support, Racial
-
In our work together, I take a collaborative, nonjudgmental approach that centers your story and your pace. I will invite you to explore what’s going on beneath the surface, what your emotions, habits, or coping strategies might be trying to communicate. That could mean gently unpacking family dynamics, unlearning patterns shaped by survival, or naming what systems and stories have made it hard to feel safe or whole.
Some sessions might feel spacious and reflective, while others are more structured with practical tools like CBT or somatic grounding practices. I’ll check in with you regularly about what’s working and what’s not. I see our sessions as a space where your truth doesn’t need to be edited, where grief and joy can exist at the same time, and where you are never too much.
-
My style is relational, grounded, and culturally attuned. I show up as a real person in the room with you, not as an expert who’s here to fix you, but as a witness and partner in your healing. I bring warmth, curiosity, and a deep respect for your lived experience.
I also draw from my background in public health, which helps me see you in context, not just as an individual but as someone shaped by environments, systems, and relationships. Whether you're navigating identity, unlearning shame, or trying to understand why you feel stuck, I meet you with compassion and care that honors your whole self.
How We Can Work Together
Clients Often Reach Out When They Are:
Overwhelmed by systems that weren’t built for them and are 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 and 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.
