Kathleen Smith

Dr. Kathleen Smith is a licensed therapist and author of the upcoming book, Everything Isn’t Terrible: Conquer Your Insecurities, Interrupt Your Anxiety, and Finally Calm Down, an informative, practical, and fun guide for people who need relief from these anxious times.

In a 2018 public opinion poll, the American Psychiatric Association reported that a majority of Americans are anxious about their safety, their health, their finances, their relationships, and their politics. As Kathleen shares, it’s clear that we need to find new strategies for managing our anxiety.

As a graduate of George Washington University and Harvard University, she’s written for popular websites like Salon, Slate, New York Magazine, Lifehacker, Bustle, Everyday Health, Psycom, Psychology Today, Counseling Today, and many others. Kathleen has been interviewed for publications such as Women’s Health magazine, Buzzfeed, and television programs including Good Morning Washington.

She is a student of Bowen Family Systems Theory and an associate faculty member of the Bowen Center for the Study of the Family. Kathleen runs her own private therapy practice in Washington, DC, and is the host of the TV show Family Matters, produced by the University of the District of Columbia. Kathleen’s first book, The Fangirl Life, was published in 2016. She is represented by Jessica Felleman of Foundry Literary + Media.

Kathleen writes a free, weekly therapy newsletter on managing anxiety, called The Anxious Overachiever. You can subscribe here. I’m so excited for you guys to connect with Kathleen, check out her work and new book, and follow along as she continues to help readers confront their anxious selves, take charge of their insecurities, and increase their own capacity to choose how they respond to it.

I'd love it if you'd introduce yourself, what you do, and what you're working on.

My name is Dr. Kathleen Smith, and I’m a licensed therapist and author living in Washington, DC. My latest book is called Everything Isn’t Terrible: Conquer Your Insecurities, Interrupt Your Anxiety, and Finally Calm Down. It’s a funny, practical guide to living your best life in our very anxious world.

How did you get started?

A few years ago I started to write a weekly newsletter for my therapy clients called The Anxious Overachiever. A lot of my clients in Washington, DC are very successful and impressive people, but their lives are often ruled by the anxiety that comes with always needing to accomplish the next big thing. The newsletter became very popular, and it made sense to turn it into a book.

What inspired the work that you're doing?

My therapy clients are always asking me for reading recommendations, and I wanted to give them a book that summarized my thinking about how they can live a less anxious and more curious life in a very uncertain world. So I decided to sit down and create a book that tells the story of the work I’ve done with young adults as a therapist, and it became my latest book, Everything Isn’t Terrible.

What is your biggest passion? Do you feel like you're living your passion and purpose?

My biggest passion is helping people turn fear into curiosity. I love it when I can help a therapy client begin to get more curious about how they function, and how their family functions. Curiosity engages the part of the brain that isn’t ruled by fear or anxiety. So yes, I’m privileged to live out my passion every day!

What is your joy blueprint? What lights you up, brings you joy, and makes you feel the most alive?

My faith community brings me joy, because I love being a part of something that isn’t just about me. It provides me with rich, intergenerational relationships and makes me feel like I can be a part of the work of social justice in my city.

How do you live intentionally? Are there tools/resources/practices that you rely on to help you stay mindful and grounded?

I have a list of guiding principles that I use to help me navigate life’s challenges. They describe who I’m trying to be, and how I’d like to treat others. Without them, my anxious autopilot will kick in, and I lose sight of what I really value. I keep them taped to the back of my phone.

What would your younger self think about what you're doing now?

I think she would be thrilled that I’m a writer, but quite surprised that I work as a family systems therapist, given how shy I was as a kid.

Do you have a go-to mantra or affirmation?

“Be a self.” This means I need to step up and be responsible for myself, instead of constantly borrowing confidence or calmness from others.

What is your biggest dream?

My biggest dream was always to be self-employed as a writer and therapist, because it gives me freedom and engages my curiosity daily. So I’m living it!

To learn more about Kathleen visit her website KathleenSmith.net and on Twitter @fangirltherapy Facebook @kathleensmithwrites and to find out more about her book, Everything Isn’t Terrible, click here and you can subscribe to her free, weekly therapy newsletter here..

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Dr. Kathleen Smith - Licensed Therapist & Author, "Everything Isn't Terrible"