Omari Smith, LPC

Thoughtful, well-spoken, and compassionate, Omari Smith is an engaging counselor who specializes in working with children, adolescents, and adults. Skilled in creating a comfortable, non-judgmental atmosphere, Omari is understanding and kind in his approach. Validating and warm, Omari is dedicated to the highest quality of care and works hard to meet and surpass client expectations every day.

Omari brings tremendous talent and a solid academic background to Gearing Up’s clientele. While offering his clients hope that lasting change is possible, he also reminds them that they must be patient and focused as they learn new coping skills. By engaging his clients in learning the invaluable skills taught at Gearing Up, he coaches his clients how to weave these new skills into their daily lives. These life changing lessons renew their investment in therapy and restore their hope in building a better life.

Omari’s expertise comes from years of graduate study at some of the top clinical programs in the area. He attended the University of Texas at Arlington for his undergraduate degree in psychology. He soon followed up by earning his masters at Tarleton State University. In addition, he has many years of experience working in schools, clinics, and hospitals in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. He worked for several years at the well-known Dallas Behavioral Hospital. He provided group, individual, and family therapy sessions to children, adolescents, and adults on a daily basis.

Omari worked with clients throughout their entire hospital stay overseeing their care from beginning to end. He taught them problem solving and decision-making skills during their hospital residence, and he also conducted psychosocial assessments and crisis intervention sessions. Omari assisted clients in determining treatment goals and implementing treatment plans to take steps toward those goals. Before they were discharged, he worked with clients to ensure a smooth transition to a less intensive level of treatment and coordinated their ongoing care with their new clinician. After discharge, he oversaw patient satisfaction surveys to confirm quality treatment for clients and excellent customer service throughout their stay. In addition to all of those responsibilities, he mentored practicum students who were training at the hospital.

Omari is currently enrolled in the Foundational Training in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) with Marsha Linehan’s institute, BehavioralTech (as of January 2021). This prestigious and intense training is equipping him with the latest research, skills, and strategies in DBT in an estimated 80-hour course over multiple months. As a staff clinician, Omari will be working directly with Dr. Sylvia Gearing in learning all of the facets of DBT that she has mastered over years of training and experience, and he will assist her in teaching weekly DBT Skills groups. He is a valued member of the Gearing Up DBT team and meets weekly with senior staff to review client care issues, implement innovative solutions, and discover ways to improve client services.

Specializations and Experience In:

• Child Individual Therapy
• Adolescent Individual Therapy
• Adult Individual Therapy
• Group Therapy
• Family Therapy
• Patient assessment
• Crisis Intervention
• Mood Disorders (Depression/Anxiety)
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Complex Trauma Disorder
• Bipolar Disorders
• Phobias
• Panic Attacks
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorders
• Anger Management
• Grief and Loss

Specialized Training In:

• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) – currently enrolled in Foundational DBT training with Marsha Linehan’s institute, BehavioralTech
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)–is completing his advanced training in this area of expertise

Among Omari’s many accomplishments are the following:

• Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from University of Texas at Arlington
• Master of Science in Counseling Psychology from Tarleton State University
• Licensed Professional Counselor in Texas