- Years in practice
- 20
- Credentials
- LCSW
- Licensed in
- Florida
- Languages
- English
- Focus
- Stress, Anxiety
- Focus
- Trauma and abuse
- Focus
- Grief
About Athina
Athina Smalios is a licensed clinical social worker with 20 years of experience helping people cope with stress, anxiety, grief, trauma, and parenting challenges. She focuses on practical strategies that can be used day to day. Her manner is warm and collaborative, and she aims to make the first steps feel manageable for a worried parent.
She uses straightforward tools to help clients calm strong emotions and improve everyday functioning.
Background and approach
Sessions often include skill building for handling anger, mood shifts, and relationship strain. Athina helps people build clearer routines and responses rather than relying on quick fixes. Athina draws on cognitive behavioral techniques to identify unhelpful thinking patterns and replace them with workable alternatives.
She also uses motivational interviewing to support commitment to change and solution-focused methods to set short-term goals. These approaches are applied in simple, usable ways for real-life situations. Her background includes long-term clinical practice with adults facing complicated losses, chronic stress, caregiver strain, and mood disorders such as bipolar and depression.
Over two decades she has worked with people dealing with ADHD, autism spectrum concerns, workplace stress, and the loneliness that can come with life transitions. In sessions she prioritizes clear communication and practical steps. Clients can expect realistic tools, goal-oriented conversations, and attention to everyday barriers.
Athina provides services from Florida and conducts work in English for those seeking support with parenting and other adult concerns.
What Athina works with
Everything Athina lists, in the therapist's own terms. Parenting is the reason this directory exists; the rest shows what else Athina helps people with.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Trauma and abuse
- Grief
- Anger management
- Self esteem
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
- Parenting issues
- Bipolar disorder
- Depression
- Coping with life changes
- Compassion fatigue
- ADHD
- Autism and Asperger Syndrome
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Family problems
- First responder issues
- Forgiveness
- Guilt and shame
- Isolation / loneliness
- Life purpose
- Workplace issues
- Young adult issues
Approaches Athina lists
Listing an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist names and does not check training records.
How her approaches work for online therapy
Athina uses cognitive behavioral therapy to help people notice unhelpful thoughts and try different, more useful ways of thinking and acting. CBT is often used when anxiety, depression, anger, or mood swings are getting in the way of daily life.She also uses motivational interviewing to help clients find their own reasons for change and build confidence to follow through. That approach is useful when someone is stuck or unsure how to start making changes.
Finding the right approach is part of the process. Athina will work together with each client to choose methods that fit their needs, goals, and preferences, and she adjusts the plan as progress is made.
Online sessions are offered by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to make care more accessible. Video can mirror an in-person session when interaction matters, phone is useful for lower bandwidth or a shorter check-in, live chat allows quick back-and-forth, and text messaging supports ongoing, flexible contact between appointments. These options make it easier to fit therapy into a busy parenting schedule or a demanding work life.
Questions people ask about Athina
What problems does she address?
Athina helps people facing stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, anger, low self-esteem, relationship and family concerns, parenting issues, bipolar disorder, depression, ADHD, and coping with life changes.
How would you describe her therapy style?
Her style is warm and collaborative with a focus on practical steps. Sessions emphasize skill building and short-term goals that can be used at home.
What is her professional background?
She has 20 years of clinical experience working with adults on trauma recovery, grief, caregiver stress, mood disorders, and day-to-day coping strategies.
What credentials does she hold and where is she based?
She holds a Florida LCSW, which stands for Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and she practices from Florida.
In which languages can sessions be held?
Sessions are offered in English.
Which session formats are available?
She offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging for remote appointments.
How are sessions paid for and what do they cost?
Costs vary by location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to the therapist's availability.
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