Hannah Smith
Registered Associate Marriage + Family Therapist # 143931

Supervised by Nicole Desamparo, LMFT #48275

 Children + Adolescent Therapy
Individual Adult Therapy

* Sessions offered in English and Spanish *

Benicia Office

• Anxiety

• Depression

• ADHD

• Self esteem

• Life transitions

• Caregiving

• LGBTQIA+ Affirming Care

• Grief and loss

• BIPOC Affirming 

• Substance use

• Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology from the Wright Institute

• Bachelor of Arts in Spanish Linguistics from UC Berkeley

• Narrative Therapy Training at James Morehouse Project, El Cerrito High School 

I am passionate about working with youth, families, and adults, offering supportive ways to navigate the many challenges they may encounter. In our work together, we might focus on identity exploration, how to cope with anxiety and stress, family dynamics, peer relationships, and more. I aim to provide a supportive space for us to uncover your strengths, gain nuanced understanding of your unique lived experiences, challenges, and goals in therapy.

My therapeutic style is client-centered and strengths-based. I use humor, creativity, and collaboration to work towards clients’ therapeutic goals. I draw from various therapeutic modalities including Narrative Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and mindfulness-based techniques. My approach is trauma-informed and healing-centered. I invite feedback along the way to ensure that clients are feeling fulfilled by the therapeutic experience and to reinforce the collaborative nature of our work together in therapy. It is my firm belief that the client is the expert in their lived experiences and I aim to offer a structured, supportive space to assist clients in reaching their goals and feeling more fulfilled and at peace in their lives.

I was born and raised in Oakland and have called the Bay Area home for most of my life. I spent many years working in the nonprofit sector and most recently provided case management services to youth navigating the foster care and immigration systems. I received my Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from the Wright Institute in Berkeley. During my time there, I interned at El Cerrito High School and provided individual and group counseling to high school students dealing with a wide range of issues from anxiety to academic and social struggles, challenges around ADHD and autism, as well as grief and loss.

This is deeply meaningful and humbling work. I am honored to witness clients rediscover their strengths and tap into their inner resources to create desired changes in their lives. I enjoy collaborating with clients to come up with creative solutions to limiting beliefs that are holding them back. I care about creating a safe and meaningful space to explore life’s ups and downs and finding a positive way forward together.

I love being out in nature, spending quality time with loved ones, and listening to music. On the weekends you’ll likely find me on a hike in the beautiful East Bay hills or sharing a meal with friends and family.