About Sharlett | Anchoring Services

Sharlett Smith, LGSW

Clinical Trainee Under Supervision

Therapy for adolescents online across Minnesota

My Story

Hi, I'm Sharlett.

If you're a teenager reading this, or a parent wondering if therapy might help your teen, I want you to know something: you don't have to have it all figured out to be worthy of care.

That might sound obvious, but it's something a lot of people don't actually believe about themselves. They think they need to hit rock bottom before asking for help, or that their problems aren't 'bad enough' to deserve support. That's not how it works. Care, compassion, and support aren't things you earn. They're things every person deserves. Including you.

I see therapy as walking alongside someone as they reclaim their voice, their strengths, and their sense of hope. I listen, meet people where they are, and believe in the power of real connection to create real change.

My Journey to Becoming a Therapist

I've always been drawn to people who are overlooked.

My path to becoming a therapist started with an undergraduate degree in social work, where I first learned to see people within the context of their relationships, communities, and systems. That foundation helped me understand that individual struggles are often connected to bigger things, including complex social, emotional, and environmental realities that shape how we experience the world.

During my Master's program, I developed a strong interest in supporting individuals living with physical and cognitive disabilities. I saw firsthand how often their voices are overlooked, and how powerful it can be when someone is truly listened to, believed, and supported.

My journey has been humbling. I've learned to sit with discomfort, reflect on my own biases, and stay open to ongoing growth. Becoming a therapist isn't a destination. It's a continual process of humility, self-awareness, and dedication to doing better for the people I serve.

My Professional Background

I hold a Bachelor of Science in Social Work and a Master of Social Work degree. I'm currently a clinical trainee working under supervision at Anchoring Services as I complete my licensure requirements.

My therapeutic approach draws from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Emotionally Focused Therapy(EFT). I help clients move from feeling overwhelmed to feeling more grounded by first slowing things down, then building practical skills from there.

I specialize in working with adolescents navigating anxiety, stress, depression, ADHD, grief, relationships, and life transitions. I believe in meeting people exactly where they are, walking alongside them as they build insight, coping skills, and hope.

As a Therapist

Philosophies I work by

You are the expert on your own life. I bring clinical tools and a listening ear. You bring the knowledge of who you are and what you need. We figure it out together.

Context and systems shape mental health. What you're experiencing doesn't exist in a vacuum. I consider the full picture, including your relationships, your environment, and your history, as we work together.

Being heard changes everything. Sometimes the most powerful thing I can do is listen, believe you, and reflect back what I see.

You don't have to be 'ready' to start. Worthiness comes first. You deserve care exactly as you are, right now.

Therapy is an ethical, reflective, evolving practice. I'm committed to ongoing learning, self-reflection, and showing up better for every person I work with.

Small steps lead to big change. We start where you are and build from there. Progress doesn't have to be dramatic to be meaningful.

Schedule with Sharlett