Book a therapist or psychiatrist in Longview, TX covered by United Healthcare

I’m Layne Smith, an LPC-S licensed in Texas with an MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Texas at Tyler & 8 years of clinical experience. I offer a person-centered, goal-oriented approach tailored to each client’s strengths & goals. I provide both in-person and telehealth sessions.

Throughout the past two decades, I have dedicated my career to working with young individuals and their families within the educational environment, serving as both an educator and a school counselor. Currently, I hold the position of a licensed professional counselor, where I continue to support and guide individuals on their journeys.

My academic credentials were earned at Stephen F. Austin State University, where I developed a strong foundation in counseling principles and practices. I am deeply passionate about empowering individuals to discover their purpose, experience healing, and embrace their true identity in Christ. My commitment to supporting the personal and spiritual growth of those I work with is at the core of my professional philosophy.

I have been a therapist for 17 years and have worked children and adults of all ages. I find joy in working with others reach their goals, manage life, and find peace.

Partnering with YOU to become your best self is my professional goal. I'm passionate about utilizing over 20 years of experience to assist you in gaining insight into barriers and developing a healthier mindset that will empower you to master proven productive skills for real change and growth.

I bring years of experience to my work with individuals and families struggling with mental health challenges. I have worked exclusively in outpatient mental health since completing my studies, and I am deeply committed to empowering my clients to thrive. As a mother of five children - including one who passed at a young age - and a bonus child, I understand firsthand the important role that mental health plays in our overall well-being and happiness. Text or call 903-476-3585.

Hello! I am glad you found your way here and I have the opportunity to introduce myself. I am a trauma-trained Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor with more than 16 years of experience supporting individuals across the lifespan. My professional background includes extensive work with trauma survivors, as well as children, adolescents, and adults navigating mental health concerns and life transitions. If you are visiting this page, please know that you do not have to face these challenges alone. Take the next step in your self-care journey and reach out by phone or email to learn more about how we can work together.

I believe it is important for clients to find a counselor that fits their personality. I combine effective research based approaches with a warm, friendly, southern personality. There is almost always laughter somewhere in my sessions, even on the tough days. Client's should leave counseling sessions with a feeling of being lighter, understood, and valued.

Life is hard and we all face challenges that can feel too big to handle on our own. Luckily you don't have to walk through these challenges alone.

Service has been a constant in my life. I have served in the United States Marine Corps, worked in law enforcement, taught in the classroom, and now serve as a Licensed Professional Counselor. Each chapter shaped how I understand stress, trauma, responsibility, and personal transformation.

My work is grounded in both lived experience and clinical training. I know what it means to operate under pressure. I understand how trauma embeds itself in the body and how identity can fracture under prolonged stress. I also know that change is possible when insight is paired with disciplined, intentional work.

Clients often describe me as direct, steady, and grounded. I don’t believe in surface-level coping alone. I believe in helping you understand your patterns, regulate your nervous system, and build internal strength that carries beyond the therapy room.

Whether you are navigating PTSD, anxiety, depression, or a major life transition, our work together is focused on clarity, resilience, and sustainable change.

Relationships can change over time but feeling disconnected doesn't have to be the end of the story.

I work with adults who want to better understand themselves and create healthier, more connected relationships. I have a particular interest in supporting people in long-term relationships who are navigating communication challenges, recurring conflict, emotional disconnection, changes in intimacy, or the feeling that they’ve become more like roommates than partners.

Therapy can be a space to slow down and understand what is happening beneath the surface. Together, we'll explore self-worth, communication, emotional and physical intimacy, boundaries, conflict patterns, emotional regulation, and coping skills. We’ll also look at how past experiences and beliefs about yourself may influence the way you communicate, connect, set boundaries, or respond when you feel hurt or misunderstood.

My approach is compassionate, collaborative, and practical. I integrate CBT, mindfulness, acceptance-based approaches, and trauma-informed therapy to help you develop greater self-awareness and the tools to create meaningful change.

You don't have to wait until your relationship is falling apart to seek support. Therapy can help you reconnect with yourself, with your partner, and with the kind of relationship you want to create.

Dr. Victoria Benson, DNP, APRN-CNP, PMHNP-BC, is a Board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) with 17 years of experience in health care and 4 years of experience in psychiatry treatments.