Profile / United States
Cortney (Bota) Smith, LMHC
New York
Licensed Mental Health Counselor - Stress and Anxiety
See online therapy options- CBT and solution-focused
- Motivational interviewing
- Works with adults
About Cortney
Cortney (Bota) Smith is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in New York with 11 years of experience. She helps people manage stress, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, anger, addictions, relationship and family concerns, trauma and abuse, grief, intimacy issues, sleep problems, parenting stress, self-esteem, career questions, and life transitions.
She has worked largely in community clinics and with adult clients in face-to-face settings. She also has several years of teletherapy experience. Her training includes a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling, plus 1,000 clinical internship hours across different placements.
Her approach centers on the person rather than a fixed protocol. Cortney uses client-centered listening combined with solution-focused techniques to set practical goals. She draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to identify unhelpful thought and behavior patterns and then tries small, testable changes.
Sessions are collaborative. Cortney asks about a person’s needs and priorities, then outlines options and steps that can be tried between meetings. She uses motivational interviewing when people are unsure about change, to clarify values and increase readiness.
Her stated office hours are Monday 9am–2pm and Wednesday 9am–3pm Eastern Time, with occasional evening appointments when needed. Prospective clients should confirm current scheduling and session formats before booking.
How her approaches translate to online work
She commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to pinpoint unhelpful thoughts and test small behavioral experiments that can be practiced between sessions. CBT is practical and structured, often focusing on daily routines, sleep, mood, and patterns that maintain anxiety or depression.She also uses client-centered methods that prioritize listening and understanding a person’s goals, and motivational interviewing to clarify reasons for change and strengthen commitment. Client-centered work helps set the direction, while motivational interviewing supports readiness to try new strategies.
Finding the right approach is part of the therapy process. Cortney discusses options with each person, considers the client’s goals and preferences, and adapts methods accordingly. That collaborative decision helps decide which techniques to try first and what homework or tracking will fit the person’s life.
The therapist has teletherapy experience but the session formats are not listed here. Confirm available session formats and scheduling options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit appointments into a weekday, reduce travel time, allow shorter check-ins when needed, or avoid being on camera if that helps someone focus. These practical benefits often help people blend therapy into everyday routines without rearranging their whole day.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
11+ years
Listed in
New York
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she commonly address?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, addictions, trauma and abuse, relationship and family concerns, grief, sleep issues, parenting stress, self-esteem, career questions, anger, intimacy issues, and coping with life changes.
How does she use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?
She applies CBT to help people notice unhelpful thoughts and habits, then tests small changes in thinking and behavior to see what helps in daily life.
What is her professional background?
She has 11 years of clinical experience, has worked in community clinics with adults, and completed 1,000 clinical internship hours during her training.
What credentials and where is she licensed?
She is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, LMHC, licensed in New York.
In which language are sessions offered?
Sessions are offered in English.
Does she work with international clients?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How are sessions paid for and what does it cost?
Cost varies with location; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time, so pricing depends on the subscription options offered at booking.
How do I begin a first session?
Choose the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule your first session.
Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are not safe, use the crisis numbers.