We had the good fortune of connecting with Jeannette Smith and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jeannette, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Honestly, I didn’t originally set out to start my own business. In fact, early in my social work career, I used to say that private practice was the ONE thing I would never do! But as an innately curious person, I’ve always been drawn to people’s stories and the experiences that have shaped who they are – especially teen girls and young women who have experienced past trauma and who are navigating a variety of life’s challenges and relational dynamics. Over the past 20 years as a social worker, I’ve worked in schools, child welfare, community mental health, nonprofits, and group practice, supporting individuals and families facing complex barriers and circumstances. Those experiences have given me opportunities to come alongside people from all walks of life, and to engage with systems that have stretched my understanding and deepened my empathy and awe at how resilient and resourceful people can be in the face of suffering.

When my family and I moved to Colorado in 2022, I transitioned out of an amazing counseling organization I had been part of in Michigan. Starting my own practice felt like the next right step, as a move across the country was a huge transition for our family, and I needed to be able to provide an income while remaining flexible and available for my family as we settled here. I was able to continue seeing my Michigan clients virtually while building my base and caseload here in Colorado. It took a lot of faith, courage, and determination to go out on my own, and I am incredibly grateful for all of the support and encouragement I have continued to have along the way.

Through the process of leaping into starting my own practice, I’ve discovered that I’m truly an entrepreneur at heart! I love the creativity that comes with building something from the ground up and the excitement and energy of bringing my personality, values, ideas, and unique perspectives to what guides the work I get to do every day. While owning a business comes with its challenges and uncertainties, it has also provided the freedom and flexibility for me to align my work and calling with the life I want to live as a mom to three growing kids, and to provide the kind of care I want to offer as a therapist. Having the ability to shape my schedule and my practice means I can show up for my clients with an authentically grounded presence and a truly personalized approach to therapy.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
My decision to start a private practice began as a practical next step for my career path when my family moved to Denver. But even more, it has been about creating something that reflects what I am truly passionate about and my heart for people to find hope, healing, and freedom in their lives. In my private practice, I specialize in helping teen girls and women who feel overwhelmed by anxiety, self-doubt, people-pleasing, past trauma, or difficult relationships learn to calm their inner critic, embrace their worth, build emotional resilience, set healthy boundaries, and cultivate secure connections so they can navigate life with greater confidence, peace, and authentic joy. Having walked through my own struggles and doubts throughout my life, I’ve experienced firsthand the power of counseling and the sacred healing space that’s created when someone is willing to enter in and hold both the pain and the hope for something new with curiosity and tenderness. I am especially passionate about supporting teen girls and young women throughout the identity-forming and transitional years. Being a female in today’s world has its unique set of challenges, especially for those who have experienced early emotional or relational wounds and who struggle to know their worth or give themselves and others compassion and grace. I am passionate about helping young women better understand their experiences, navigate their emotions, and grow in curiosity and confidence as they embrace their worth and discover the strengths that help them build healthier relationships and make a positive impact on the world around them.

I genuinely love working with teen girls and women who carry painful stories that have shaped their sense of worth. I bring a trauma-informed, relational, and compassionate approach to helping them heal and grow. Not only is this my passion, but I also saw a gap in care for this population, especially for teens, and I wanted to create a space where people feel safe to bring their full, unfiltered selves and know they’ll be met with genuine acceptance, warmth, authenticity, honesty, and care, as well as humor and challenge when necessary. I deeply enjoy what I get to do. It’s an honor to be trusted with someone’s story and to be invited to hold space for where they’ve been and to walk alongside them as they grow, heal, and become more of who they were made to be.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would definitely plan to do things that get us outdoors, soaking up the Colorado sunshine. This state is so beautiful, and the longer I live here, the more I love it! I especially enjoy all of the outdoor activities and different types of places to explore. I’d probably suggest a hike with a view – Mt. Falcon, Deer Creek Canyon, or Red Rocks are easy favorites, or a bike ride through Waterton Canyon. Then, a food tour of delicious restaurants with happy hours and a fun, casual atmosphere and outdoor seating — some places my family loves are Linger, Perdida, Cochino Taco, and Homegrown Tap n’ Dough. If the weather is warm, we could go floating down the river in Golden or go paddleboarding. We’d probably head to several local coffee shops, do some thrift store shopping, take the kids to some parks or the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, walk around Wash Park, or head to Boulder to explore and do some hiking. Maybe go to a concert or a theater show if something great is happening downtown. If we had time, drive to the Springs and visit Cheyenne Mountain Zoo or Garden of the Gods with the kids, or we could head up to the mountains for some camping and more hiking around RMNP or Estes Park. I know there is so much more of Colorado that I have yet to discover, so we’d likely stay busy trying new places to eat and hike. I love adventures, but I’m also an introvert, and would want to leave time for catching up on life during slow mornings, cooking some dinners at home, and having cozy backyard campfires that create space for meaningful conversation and connection.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There’s no way I’d be in private practice or running my own business without the steady support and encouragement of the people in my life along the way. My husband has been a consistent source of strength and encouragement as well as a constant presence and rational voice when I get stuck in my head — especially in moments when I’ve doubted myself as a business owner or therapist. He brings steadiness, perspective, and practical reminders of the purpose and gifts I bring to my role, as well as the practical business side of things (budget, schedule, taxes), which has helped me keep moving forward. I’m also so grateful to my sweet kids — their innocent and wholehearted belief that I can do anything keeps me grounded, lighthearted, and focused on what matters most. I’m also incredibly grateful that I have had the privilege of learning from and receiving support from amazing mentors and colleagues throughout my career who have named my gifts and helped me grow in my skills as a clinician, and who encourage me to grow into this work with both confidence and trusting the process before I could even see those things in myself. My faith is my anchor, and it keeps my perspective on how this work is bigger than just me or my efforts, and that I’m simply called to show up fully with my whole self and to join in the adventure of it all with integrity and care. And also my clients, with their incredible courage, honesty, and willingness to show up vulnerably, leaning into the hard work of healing and growth, are what make this work so meaningful.

Website: https://jeannettesmithlcsw.com

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeannette-smith-64836091

Image Credits
Kara Pearson Gwinn
Jeannette Smith

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