Mika Smith-Low

My name is Mika Smith-Low, and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker - Supervisor and a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor. I received my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Hendrix College and my Masters of Social Work from the University of Texas at Arlington. I began my mental health career working in an inpatient psychiatric hospital setting, ranging from acute crisis stabilization to chronic schizophrenia and psychosis to geriatric issues, such as dementia and Alzheimer's. I also worked part-time running an intensive outpatient program for individuals with substance use issues involving the legal system. Following inpatient work, I worked in an outpatient psychiatric clinic, providing individual therapy and initial psychiatric diagnostic evaluations and assisting an initiative to integrate psychiatric care into OBGYN/Maternal Fetal Medicine and Neurology services. I also worked in an outpatient partial hospitalization program providing group therapy for primary mental health issues. Currently, I am one of the owners of DTS and provide individual therapy to older adolescents and adults. While I generally work with adults, I am trained in working with ages 15 and older. My style is direct, yet encouraging, with a casual and informal feel. I provide education, welcome questions and skepticism, and push against avoidance. I frequently give homework and challenge my clients to step outside their comfort zones, especially with exposure tasks. I also have a therapy dog, Bentley, that helps with those tougher sessions. I am able to pull from multiple training modalities, but my primary include EMDR, CBT, Exposure and Response Prevention, and CBT-Insomnia. Additionally, I am a Certified EMDRIA clinician (EMDR), a Mediator in the state of Texas and received advanced training in OCD through BTTI. These trainings and experience in the field have led to a passion for working in the following areas: OCD and related disorders, PTSD and trauma, LGBTQ+ affirming including assistance with medical and legal transitions, severe anxiety disorders and phobias. I have experience with depression and bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and psychotic disorders, substance use, insomnia, relationship issues, and body focused repetitive behavior disorders (skin-picking and hair-pulling). Therapy is a joint endeavor, but you are the expert - you set the goals and the pace. As your therapist my goal is to provide you with the education, skills, tools, and understanding you need to achieve sustainable symptom reduction and become better adjusted and able to cope with life changes and stressors more independently.