Dion Smith | Santa Monica Christian Counseling

Schedule with Dion

Dion Smith, MA, LMFT

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist #LMFT140139

As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), I have extensive experience working with individuals, couples, families, and groups dealing with a wide array of challenges. Whether you’re dealing with anxiety, depression, relationship problems such as codependency, infidelity, or other concerns, trauma, anger, grief, addiction, or other issues, I would be honored to walk with you to discover a better way forward in Christ. With patience and attentiveness, I will listen to your story as you share what is on your mind and heart. Together with God’s help we will establish practical steps toward achieving the goals you set for yourself.

Santa Monica – Mon & Fri
Los Angeles – Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu & Fri
Online Counseling – Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu & Fri

About Dion

I offer a welcoming, compassionate environment where you can feel seen and heard – key elements for improving self-confidence. One of my goals as your therapist is to help you become more comfortable expressing yourself and allowing others to see you for who you are. As your counselor, I will partner with you to develop the skills needed to find balance between mind, body, and spirit so you can effectively navigate the challenges of life. We will work together to address any difficulties you’re facing so you can continue to live the life God has called you to live.

My Goal as a Christian Counselor

My primary goal for my clients is for them to improve their own self-awareness so that they can have an improved self-esteem. My hope is that we will develop a working therapeutic relationship that allows each individual to feel comfortable expressing their authentic selves so we can get to the heart of the matter and establish a catered treatment plan to meet their specific needs.

What I Offer in Christian Counseling

I offer a comfortable, supportive environment that allows you to be your genuine self. With a conversational approach, I will spend time getting to know you, listening patiently and attentively to your concerns in order to determine the best path forward. Based on your unique situation, I will work with you develop an individualized treatment plan using a combination of proven therapeutic methods from a faith-based perspective in order to best serve your needs.

My Approach to Christian Counseling

One benefit of incorporating a Christian perspective into therapy is that using Scripture is a great resource for improving one’s value system. Also, seeking a higher power helps us realize that there are issues that develop in our lives that are out of our control, and that’s okay. As a Christian counselor, it’s a joy to be able to treat the whole person – mind, body, and spirit – as part of the overall therapy experience. My own faith continues to teach me to be humble and to realize I am not meant to know all the answers. By coming together with others, seeking to align ourselves with God and His will, we can build a better understanding and make lasting progress, with His help.

Biography

Qualifications & Experience

I have a BA in Economics and History from Claremont McKenna College and an MA in Counseling Psychology and Marriage and Family Therapy from National University. My training included working with a variety of age groups, clinical needs, and therapeutic methods. I have extensive experience working with individuals, couples, families, and children.

My Call to Christian Counseling

I decided to pursue becoming a therapist after my experience working in corporate America. I found that people were always comfortable discussing details about themselves with me without prompting. I also found that I could work with people who were considered difficult to work with in my workspace. Some of my gifts include patience and the ability to explain difficult situations in common language.

I ran a childcare for over two years where I was able to work with children from the ages of nine months to four years old, which helped me refine my ability to read body language and other nonverbal communication. I also worked as a teacher/tutor for four years in an after-school program, where I assisted elementary aged students with improving their academic performance. Each of these experiences contributed to my current skill set and served as stepping stones on my path to becoming a counselor.

More About Me/On a Personal Note

I enjoy music, outdoor activities, driving cars, cycling, and traveling.

Services & Specialties

Areas of Expertise/Specialties

Individual Counseling

We face many challenges in our lives, but we do not have to do it alone. My goal is to provide a safe environment that allows you to express and explore any issue you may be dealing with at the time. Together we seek to find your personal balance between mind, body, and spirit in order for you to improve your ability to manage and overcome any situation you may be struggling with.

Marriage Counseling

Together we will work to improve your marriage. We will consider your situation with a holistic approach, utilizing God’s Word and effective therapeutic interventions to help your marriage grow. I will help you improve your communication as a key to unlocking your ability to address any issues in your marriage. We will establish goals tailored to your relationship to assist in addressing your issues.

Men’s Issues

As a man, seeking help can be hard, but I am here to help. The first step is to understand that you do not have to solve every problem on your own; working together, we can find solutions. I will assist you with creating a treatment plan that will help you build each core phase of yourself in order to become the man you desire to be.

Coaching

I will help you develop a plan to address any issues related to personal growth that you are struggling with at this time. We can work together to also help you improve and grow in your relationships, professional life, or any other area of your life you may be struggling in. I will help you break through by identifying your strengths and weaknesses to help you achieve your goals.

Anxiety

Anxiety does not have to be a crippling issue that negatively impacts your life. I will assist you in developing tools to help you overcome and manage your anxiety. I will also help you develop positive coping strategies, such as improved breathing techniques, effective self-talk, and setting realistic expectations for yourself to help with anxiety management. We will also learn that anxiety is a natural tool in life that at times we can use to help us achieve our goals. Personal growth and improved stress management are possible, with God’s help.

Payments & Forms

Sessions: I offer 53-minute sessions. Sessions can be held more than once per week, weekly, or every other week. Scheduling options are discussed in greater detail during your Risk-Free Initial Session.

Availability (by office location):

Santa Monica – Monday & Friday
Los Angeles – Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
Online Counseling – Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday

Fees: I offer a Risk-Free Initial Session for individuals, couples, and groups looking to pursue counseling with me. Please note that there is a fee for the Risk-Free Initial Session as it is a clinical hour and reimbursable to most insurance companies, but if you choose not to reschedule and continue therapy after the initial session the entire fee for the session will be waived. For ongoing treatment, the full fee per session is required at the time of service.

Insurance: As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), some insurance companies will reimburse for a portion of my services (as an Out of Network Provider). Please consult with your insurance provider as to whether they specifically cover adolescents, individuals and couples.

Receipts/Statements: In the event you require a printed or digital receipt, I will provide receipts for personal use, insurance reimbursement, Flex Spending Accounts (FSA), and Health Savings Accounts (HSA).

Payment options: Cash, Check, or Credit Card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, & American Express). A fee of up to 4% per transaction will be added for credit card payments.

Couple Form Individual Form

Focus Areas

Abandonment and Neglect
ADHD
Aging and Geriatric Issues
Anger Management
Anxiety
Bipolar Disorder
Chemical Dependency
Coaching
Counseling for Teens
Couples Counseling
Codependency
Depression
Family Counseling
Grief and Loss
Group Counseling
Individual Counseling
Infidelity and Affairs
Marriage Counseling
Men’s Issues
OCD
Online Counseling
Personal Development
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Premarital Counseling
Professional Development
Relationship Issues
Sex and Porn Addiction
Sexual Abuse
Spiritual Development
Trauma
Weight Loss
Women’s Issues