Tifini Smith

My approach: Honestly? It depends on you. Some weeks we're digging into old patterns, other weeks we're building a skill you can use that same day. I lean on CBT and DBT, but I'm not married to a script — I follow your lead and adjust as we go. What stays consistent is the relationship. That's where the real work happens.

Figure out what's actually going on underneath the surface stuff, not just manage symptoms. We'll name the patterns that keep showing up, build tools you can use outside of session, and go at whatever pace feels right for you — even if that means slowing way down when something heavy comes up.

Honest and present. The thing I hear most is some version of "that's a good question" — followed by a long pause, because they don't have an answer yet. I take that as a good sign — it usually means we hit something real, not just the surface. Laid-back on the outside, but genuinely in it with them, not just nodding along.

Have gotten really good at holding it together for everyone else and are ready to stop just managing. Anxiety, depression, identity questions, relationship or family patterns that keep repeating, attachment wounds, trauma — if you're tired of coping and want to understand what's actually underneath it, that's who I work best with.

I've been through my own share of hard seasons, and I know what it's like to feel like no one really gets what's going on underneath. I wanted to be the person I needed at those points — someone steady, honest, and actually trained to help, not just sympathetic. That's still what drives the work for me.

My practice, Fig & Olive Therapy Co., is built around two things: self-empowerment and intentionality. How you treat yourself reflects how you allow others to treat you — real change often starts with how you talk to and care for yourself. Even the smallest choices shape your life's direction, so I encourage choosing on purpose, not on autopilot.