STEP 1: Find Your Counselor > STEP 2: Schedule an Appointment > STEP 3: Experience Life Change
Mackenzie Smith
M.A.- Level Intern

Specialties
- eating disorders
- anxiety
- OCD
- divorce/separation
- life transitions
- women’s issues
- church hurt
- spiritual direction
EXPERIENCE LEVEL
Client focus
Age
- toddlers/preschoolers
- children
- preteens/tweens
- teenagers
- adults (18+)
- seniors (65+)
Client Type
- individuals
“You doubt your value; Don’t run from who you are.” – Aslan, C.S. Lewis The Chronicles of Narnia
Philosophy and Therapeutic Approach
My interest in counseling first peaked when I was in undergrad. I watched a lot of my friends walk through difficult seasons in their early adult years and saw the way counseling changed their lives for the better. I chose this path because I believe therapy works. I believe that each of us has a unique story filled with purpose, beauty, goodness, hardship, struggle, and everything in between. Sometimes in the harder, heavier seasons of life we need someone to walk alongside us in our hurt to help us remember who we are and the inherent value our life holds. I am here to sit with you in your pain and help you walk through healing as you pursue a restored, fulfilling life.
As mentioned, I have personally seen the trajectory of people’s lives change due to counseling in college, yet I also found myself wishing that I would have had something similar during my childhood and teenage years. I believe that counseling is for everyone and every age, but I also believe there is something truly special about working with kiddos! Kids who are equipped to know how to emotionally and mentally deal with whatever life may throw at them…their stories and trajectories for life can be completely changed. I’m passionate about listening to the perspectives of the young, helping them feel heard, seen, and appreciated, and empowering them with the tools they need to heal and thrive in their unique lives.
What to Expect in Therapy
Counseling can be intimidating! I’m here to help alleviate some of that stress and give you the run-down of the therapy process. Each person’s therapy process is uniquely their own and tailored to fit their story, focus, and goals. The pressure is not all on you! We will work together throughout our sessions to agree upon and name your specific needs, goals, and hopes for what you want to get out of counseling.
Your first session will consist of us getting to know each other. This is when I love to get a big picture of your unique story– what makes you, you, and what has brought you to Cornerstone. It’s not lost on me that this first session can be extremely difficult. It can be scary to be vulnerable with a stranger. Know that I have been there and I empathize with those feelings. It’s my goal to cultivate a welcoming, non-judgemental space for you to share whatever you feel comfortable sharing.
These first few sessions are also a time for us to decide if we are a good fit for one another! If we are, we will create a one-of-a-kind plan to address anything and everything that might be weighing on or hindering you. We will then work toward pursuing what you’d like to accomplish and gain from therapy. I believe that God desires each of us to live in freedom, and I’m eager to pursue that with you!
Personal Qualifications and Experience
I have always been a people-person so talking, listening, and asking questions are some of my favorite things to do! When I began undergrad as a graphic design major, I spent a lot of time feeling like something wasn’t right about that path for me. I ended up taking a career test and scored high in the care-taking field. I knew I couldn’t work as a nurse or medical doctor because I’m pretty squeamish, but “counselor” really caught my attention. I decided to enroll in psychology classes to give it a whirl. I quickly came alive in school and settled into my psychology major knowing I was exactly where I needed to be.
Throughout undergrad, I spent a lot of time as a leader in a mentorship program working with high school students and helping them through life struggles. I also have a lot of experience working and building relationships with children from years of babysitting and nannying. To this day, kiddos are one of my favorite groups of people on the planet. In addition to all of this, I have spent countless hours being a listening ear and voice of encouragement in the lives of my closest friends. What can I say, people are just my favorite!
Personal Interests
I am a huge fan of The Chronicles of Narnia! I love the mixing of fairytale and truth that it holds, and the character Lucy stole my heart from the very beginning of the series. When I’m not reading Narnia, you can find me hiking, taking photos, listening to a good podcast, or watching a home renovation show which usually leads me to doing my own home renos in my free time! I am married to my college sweetheart, and we settled in Denver in 2021 after making a big move from Ohio. We love to go for walks in our neighborhood, eat pizza at our local favorite Joy Hill, and spend time with our church family!
NEXT STEPS
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair (Isaiah 61:1-3, NIV).