Jason Smith

I’m Jason Smith, a 5th-generation Las Crucen and a 3rd-generation counselor. The grandson of Mexican immigrants, I speak 3 languages (only one truly fluently, however), and love learning about and appreciating the various and diverse cultures we’re fortunate to have here in Las Cruces and New Mexico more broadly. A lover of music ranging from Jazz and R&B to classical and New Wave, I’m a visual artist whose medium is photography, and a lifelong martial artist. I’ve lived on both coasts of the US as well as in large and small towns in between, but I’ve spent most of my life in New Mexico and have always considered it home.

As a counselor, I approach each case with empathy and curiosity and do my best to help clients become more mindful of the cognitive, emotional, cultural, social, and historical dynamics in play in their lives that all of us are likely aware of but not always conscious of how they can profoundly influence our mental health. I then try to help clients use that newfound consciousness to begin making adaptive and constructive changes to better self-regulate their emotional state. While I often draw upon theories and techniques including EMDR, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Internal Family Systems, and mindfulness, I always attempt to meet clients where they are and utilize an integrative and holistic approach that incorporates and draws from each client’s cultural perspective, personal strengths, creativity, and uniqueness.

I work with individuals 14 and up, and I especially enjoy working with people from diverse backgrounds (ethnic, national, LGBTQ+, religious/non-religious, socioeconomic, and cultural) who may be dealing with issues ranging from mood disorders and trauma to relationship and workplace challenges. I strive to facilitate healing by providing a safe environment for clients to be authentic about their situations and feelings, providing resources and psychoeducation when appropriate, and encouraging reflection, insight, self-acceptance, and self-forgiveness, and sometimes even transformational epiphanies.