Kris Smith, LCSW

Hi! I’m Kris and I’m a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (CSW003413) specializing in parenting concerns, grief and loss, relationship challenges within family and friendships, and toxic/narcissistic relationship patterns. I am particularly passionate about empowering women in midlife to acknowledge and honor their acquired wisdom while creating an encouraging therapeutic space where they can continue to explore and grow. 

I received her undergraduate degree in Child and Family Development from the University of Georgia and a Master’s of Social Work from the University of South Carolina. While completing my Master’s, I worked as a child life specialist in a bone marrow transplant unit in Columbia, South Carolina. This life changing experience greatly shaped my future work in the fields of grief/loss and parenting. 

Upon graduation and moving back to Atlanta, I worked as a hospice social worker.  Following my hospice work experience, I pursued working with children and teens as a child and adolescent counselor in a community mental health clinic.  Following this rewarding experience, I joined Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta in the AFLAC Cancer Center as the leukemia and lymphoma social worker where I provided supportive counseling to children, teens, and their families as they navigated a childhood cancer diagnosis and treatment. 

In recent years, I have worked in private practice and also served as the Middle School Counselor at Christ the King in Atlanta, GA. In this role, I supported adolescents and their parents during the challenging middle school years by teaching about mental health to increase knowledge, normalize struggles, teach healthy coping skills, and decrease stigma. 

I believe in the value and power of a strong collaborative relationship between a client and therapist to create positive changes that align with personal values.  One of my favorite quotes is, “Do the best you can until you know better.  Then when you know better, do better” by Maya Angelou. This quote speaks to the promising power of our ability to change and grow. Deep-rooted patterns of behavior can be disrupted, and new neural pathways can be created! 

Outside of the office, I enjoy walking while listening to podcasts and doing yoga. I savor going on weekend coffee dates with my husband and connecting with my two teenage daughters. I love an iced doughnut and adore Dolly Parton.