Michelle Little Smith, MSW, LCSW

Owner/Founder of Counseling Associates at the Lake, Inc. 

mjlsmithlcsw@caatl.net

PLEASE NOTE MICHELLE HAS LIMITED AVAILABILITY AND IF SHE IS NOT ABLE TO ACCCOMODATE YOU, SHE IS HAPPY TO ASSIST YOU IN FINDING ANOTHER THERAPIST WHO WOULD BE A GOOD FIT FOR YOU AND YOUR NEEDS. Do not hesitate to ask for her help on this!

Michelle graduated from Clemson University in 1991 with a degree in Psychology and went on to obtain her Masters degree in Social Work with a Mental Health specialty in 1993.  She has over 30 years of post-graduate experience in providing direct clinical services.  Michelle began her career in Child Psychiatry at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, MD and then went on to work for over 7 years as a therapist at Magellan Behavioral Health in Charlotte, NC and then started her own private practice in Cornelius, NC in 2003. After 12 years of a thriving private practice, Michelle decided to expand wanting to form a team of likeminded therapists who shared her same passion and dedication to their work and their clients and founded Counseling Associates at the Lake, Inc. in 2014. 

Michelle works with adolescents, adults of all ages and couples.  She has a special interest and expertise in working with mid to older adolescents and/or college age people, couples/marital therapy with couples of all sexual orientations, affair recovery, Seniors going through life stage transitions, parenting/family and step parenting issues, family of origin relational issues, individuals working to free themselves from and/or manage toxic and/or narcissistic relationships, LGBTQ+ and gender identity related issues, and general life stressors and transitions.  Her therapeutic style tends to be “no nonsense” and somewhat eclectic, attempting to tailor to each individual client’s needs but often using a solution focused, person centered, direct and cognitive behavioral approach.  One of Michelle’s strengths is her ability to build a quick rapport with her clients and helping them to feel very comfortable, safe and at ease as they begin the therapeutic process. Many of Michelle’s clients have often referred to her as a “straight shooter” with also a great sense of humor and they appreciate her direct but caring approach while also meeting clients where they are and helping them to define their goals and to reach them in a most efficient and effective manner.

Michelle is a very warm, kind, empathetic and open minded person and therapist with both a great sense of humor and a truly deep care and compassion for her clients. Michelle is highly dedicated to her clients and all who have met her feel immediately her obvious understanding of what a privilege it is to be a part of their lives during some of their most difficult, painful or challenging times.  Michelle is passionate about the field and truly feels incredibly lucky every single day to have the honor of doing what she does! Michelle is an ardent safe space ally for the LGBTQ+ population and all members of any vulnerable or marginalized populations/groups.

Michelle’s office is always a safe space. Bring your tears, your laughs, your fears, your curse words…no holding back… your screams, your pillow punching, your story telling…..whatever you need to express yourself and feel and be authentically you. And if it ever doesn’t feel safe, comfortable or meeting your needs, she WANTS you to tell her. You are the lead in your journey.

Michelle offers day and some evening appointments.  She is a provider for most all the major insurance companies including BCBS, United, Aetna, Medicare, Tricare, Medcost (not CBHA) and also accepts self-pay/private pay. Michelle makes every attempt to respond to new client calls or emails within 24 hours.

***If you email and do not receive a response, please check you SPAM file….sometimes we have issues with responses from the website ending up in a spam folder strangely as of recent.****

OFFERING BOTH IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL/TELEHEALTH SESSIONS

When not working Michelle has an active lifestyle and most enjoys horseback riding and spending time with her horse, “Jiggy”. She also adores the mountains and beach as often as she can possibly get to either. She particularly adores Folly Beach. She also enjoys kayaking, traveling anytime she can, going on new adventures, trying new restaurants or venues, photography, social justice advocacy and community service, live music, playing and loving on her cats (as a humbled reformed cat hater), discovering new music and other art forms of all kinds, cooking, consignment or thrift shopping for absolutely anything and everything and just spending time with family, her daughter and her amazing friends she so cherishes.

Contact Information:

(704) 301.5424

mjlsmithlcsw@caatl.net