Scott Smith

Scott Smith received a Master of Arts from Assumption College in 2007, with a specialization in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for adults. Scott completed his internship at a top tier training site, The Bridge of Central Massachusetts, where he received additional intensive training in dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) for individuals and groups. Scott has decades of experience working in multiple agencies and group practices, helping individuals and couples who have a wide range of diagnoses.

In 2019, Scott began a solo practice focusing on couple therapy using emotional focus therapy (EFT). Scott realized he enjoys collaboration with other providers and decided to form Insights Psychological Services, PLLC with Ashley O'Hearn, Psy.D. to fulfill a dream as well as a need for the mental health community in Boston. Scott is excited about the prospects of clients having an authentic experience and clinicians being invested as much as the individuals are in their treatment.

Scott enjoys working with adult individuals and couples (ages 20's to 50's) who are experiencing anxiety, depression, and relationship difficulties. More specifically, Scott likes working with clients who want to gain awareness and insight surrounding their maladaptive behavioral patterns in order to promote change. Those who are in an existential crisis and seeking resolution, would likely be a good fit working with Scott.

In terms of helping individuals, Scott provides psychological counseling using a CBT framework through a relational lens. He puts emphasis on learning about his clients' lived experience, while also pushing for change by challenging negative held beliefs or schemata. Scott is sensitive to clients feeling uncomfortable sharing their vulnerabilities and uses validation and encouragement throughout the therapy process to help clients feel understood.

When working with couples, Scott uses EFT to help his clients identify the problematic dynamic that occurs in the relationship. He assists each individual of the partnership in identifying their emotional experience when a rupture has occurred as well as aids them in taking an empathetic stance with their partner in order to repair the injury. Additionally, Scott incorporates his DBT training to help couples better communicate to one another in an effective manner.

Stylistically, Scott also guides his clients through the entire therapy process to create safety so that clients are able to gradually be able to tolerate uncomfortable feelings. Scott provides his individual and couple clients emotional consulting meaning that he provides feedback on what clients might be doing behaviorally that once was helpful but now is potentially keeping them stuck and unable to move forward toward their life goals. He uses humor and irreverence as a great therapeutic tool.