Hello! My name is Lana Smith, and I am a Marriage and Family Therapy (LMFT) intern that will be working with the Pack Light Counseling team this year! Although I am working towards becoming a licensed therapist, I am currently a licensed public school pre- k teacher with 18 years of experience in educating children. I have a B. A in Psychology with a concentration in Child Development from Kaplan University, a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Grand Canyon University, and I am presently working towards a Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy at Capella University.

As a teacher, I have spent the past 18 years not only working with young children, but also with their families, and I feel that throughout my teaching career I have gained a wealth of experience and knowledge in early childhood education and behavior as well as a genuine understanding of the exceptional challenges that some children and their families face. Over the years, I have positively interacted and cooperatively worked with individuals from all economic, cultural, and social origins. I strongly feel as if my career background in education will benefit me greatly as I transition into the mental health field. My goal as I continue this professional journey is to become someone that individuals can trust, embrace and ultimately confide in, knowing that I will do all I can to help them through life’s unique challenges.

When I’m not juggling my many hats, in my spare time I enjoy spending time with my son, traveling, baking, reading, shopping and practicing self-care.