Meet Tori Smith, Resident in Counseling: Helping You Build Confidence, Resilience, and Self-Compassion

Finding clinicians who genuinely care about people and believe in their capacity for growth is something quite special. Tori Smith, Resident in Counseling, embodies that belief every day in her work with clients.

Tori is currently seeing clients in our Radford office and has a passion for helping children, teens, and young adults navigate life's challenges with compassion, practical tools, and hope.

What stands out most about Tori is her unwavering belief that people can change, heal, and create lives they feel proud of, regardless of what they may be struggling with today.

A Desire to Help Those Who Need Support

Tori's path into counseling began with a simple but powerful observation. She saw people who genuinely wanted to get better but lacked the support, guidance, and resources they needed to move forward.

"Everyone deserves support and help," she explains.

That belief continues to guide her work today. As a counselor, Tori is passionate about creating a space where people feel heard, understood, and empowered to work toward the goals that matter most to them. One of her favorite parts of being a therapist is the opportunity to connect with people from all walks of life.

"I love getting to connect with so many different people and help them with their goals in their unique journey."

Supporting Teens, Young Adults, and Individuals Facing Life's Challenges

Tori enjoys working with clients across the lifespan, but she is particularly passionate about helping teenagers and young adults. These years often involve significant change, uncertainty, and pressure. Many young people are trying to figure out who they are, where they belong, and how to navigate school, relationships, family expectations, and future goals.

Tori frequently works with individuals struggling with:

• Anxiety

• Depression

• Stress and overwhelm

• Self-esteem concerns

• Life transitions

• Emotional regulation

• Relationship challenges

• Adolescent mental health concerns

  
  

She understands that mental health challenges do not always stem from a major crisis.

In fact, one of the myths she hopes to challenge is the idea that someone must be in crisis before seeking counseling. Many people benefit from therapy simply because they want support, self-understanding, and healthier ways to cope with life's everyday challenges.

Counseling That Balances Validation and Growth

When asked to describe her counseling style, Tori chose three words:

Genuine.

Nonjudgmental.

Practical.

Those qualities are at the heart of her approach. Tori believes effective therapy involves both compassion and accountability. She focuses on helping clients feel understood and validated while also encouraging them to explore new perspectives, build insight, and make meaningful changes.

She explains:

"My approach is unique because I focus on balancing validation with growth. I work to help clients feel heard and supported while also encouraging insight, self-reflection, and meaningful change."

Clients working with Tori can expect a warm and welcoming environment where they can openly discuss their concerns without fear of judgment. During the first session, her goal is to create a safe space where clients can share their experiences, discuss what brought them to counseling, and identify what they hope to gain from the process.

And if you're nervous about starting therapy? Tori wants you to know that is completely normal.

"The first step is often the hardest."

Helping Clients Learn to Love Themselves

One of the most powerful statements Tori shared was her answer to this prompt:

"My goal as a therapist is to help you..."

Her response?

"Learn to love yourself."

At its core, much of Tori's work focuses on helping clients develop a healthier relationship with themselves.

Through counseling, many of her clients learn to:

• Better understand their emotions

• Develop self-compassion

• Build confidence

• Challenge unhelpful thought patterns

• Create healthier coping skills

• Gain insight into their experiences

• Move forward with greater resilience

She believes healing isn't about becoming a different person. In fact, another misconception she hopes to challenge is the belief that therapy exists to change who you are. Instead, therapy helps individuals understand themselves more fully and move through life with greater awareness, confidence, and self-acceptance.

To Tori, healing looks like:

"Taking a step back and coming back with more compassion, grace, and resilience."

Evidence-Based Approaches with a Personal Touch

Tori utilizes several evidence-based therapeutic approaches, including:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

• Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT)

• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

These approaches help clients better understand their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors while developing practical tools for managing challenges both inside and outside the counseling office. She especially enjoys working with clients who are open to exploring new perspectives and trying new coping strategies.

As she puts it:

"You might be a good fit to work with me if you're willing to keep an open mind and put the work into this journey."

More Than a Therapist

One of the things clients often enjoy learning is that therapists are people, too. A fun fact about Tori is that clients are often surprised by her age. While she may look young, her passion, empathy, and dedication to helping others are evident from the moment you meet her.

Outside of work, Tori enjoys:

📚 Reading

🎧 Listening to the Crime Junkie podcast

☀️ Spending time outdoors

🐶 Cuddling with her dog

🎭 Watching crime documentaries

💆 Self-care nights complete with books, snacks, and face masks

If she could have coffee with anyone in history, she would choose Jane Austen because she would love to hear the stories behind her novels and writings.

When stress hits, Tori finds comfort in something simple:

Spending a few moments cuddling her dog.

Tori's Message to Future Clients

One of my favorite things Tori shared was this:

"I am here because I believe every person in the chair in front of me can change."

That belief is powerful.

Whether you are struggling with anxiety, depression, stress, self-esteem, or simply trying to figure out your next step in life, Tori approaches each client with patience, compassion, and optimism. She sees counseling as your journey.

Her role is to walk alongside you, provide support, offer guidance, and help you discover the strengths that already exist within you.

As Tori says:

"I'm patient, understanding, and compassionate about what I do. It's your journey and I'm honored to be part of it."

Now Accepting New Clients in Radford

Tori Smith, M.Ed., Resident in Counseling, is currently accepting new clients at Body and Mindfully Healthy's Radford office.

If you are a teen, young adult, or individual looking for support with anxiety, depression, life stressors, self-esteem, or personal growth, Tori may be an excellent fit for your counseling journey.

Schedule With Tori Smith

📍 Radford, Virginia

💻 Telehealth Available

Resident in Counseling

Supervised by Rebecca Worrell, LPC

Contact Body and Mindfully Healthy today to schedule an appointment and begin your journey toward healing, growth, and self-discovery.