Meet Laporshe Smith

We were lucky to catch up with Laporshe Smith recently and have shared our conversation below.

Laporshe, so great to have you sharing your thoughts and wisdom with our readers and so let’s jump right into one of our favorite topics – empathy. We think a lack of empathy is at the heart of so many issues the world is struggling with and so our hope is to contribute to an environment that fosters the development of empathy. Along those lines, we’d love to hear your thoughts around where your empathy comes from?

“The conditions that allowed me to develop empathy stem from both my personal experiences and my professional journey. Growing up, I learned early on the importance of understanding others’ perspectives. My ability to empathize developed from a natural inclination toward being observant. Even as a child, I was always aware of the small details in people’s expressions, gestures, and moods—often noticing things that others might miss. This attentiveness made me curious about the emotions behind those actions. I wanted to understand what people were feeling, why they behaved in certain ways, and how their inner world shaped their outward behavior. However, it wasn’t until I encountered certain life challenges that I truly grasped the power of empathy—both in receiving it and offering it to others.

Empathy is not just an inherent quality; it’s a skill I’ve cultivated over time. Being observant and sensitive to these subtleties is something that came instinctively to me, but as I grew and started my journey to become a therapist, I realized that observation alone wasn’t enough. Empathy—the ability to truly understand and connect with someone’s emotional experience—requires more than just noticing what’s on the surface. It requires the skills to interpret those observations and respond in a way that makes others feel seen, heard, and understood. In many relationships, I’ve noticed that people often misunderstand or underuse empathy. They might confuse it with simply being sympathetic or assume it’s something that just happens naturally. But true empathy requires effort—actively listening, being present, and attempting to see the world through another’s eyes. Without someone in a relationship possessing this skill, it becomes harder to build trust, resolve conflicts, or fully understand one another. In any relationship—personal or professional—someone has to make that empathetic leap, or communication breaks down, and connection is lost.

Professionally, my work as a psychotherapist has been a constant practice of deepening empathy. My formal training as a therapist provided the framework to refine and build on that natural ability. I learned techniques that helped me not only recognize emotions more effectively but also respond with compassion, creating an environment where people felt safe to express themselves. Training also helped me understand the importance of active listening, a critical component of empathy. It’s one thing to observe and pick up on non-verbal cues, but another to actively engage, ask the right questions, and really listen to the answers without judgment. Sitting with clients through their most vulnerable moments, I’ve learned to listen not just to their words but to the emotions and experiences beneath the surface. My training has provided the tools to approach each individual without judgment, but it’s the clients themselves who have taught me the most about human resilience and compassion. I’ve come to understand that empathy is not just about feeling what someone else feels; it’s about holding space for their emotions, even the difficult ones, and offering support without taking over their experience.

Ultimately, the conditions that allowed me to develop my empathy stemmed from a combination of natural observation and years of dedicated training, which together have allowed me to create meaningful, therapeutic relationships with my clients. I believe empathy is an ongoing practice. Each new interaction, whether personal or professional, offers me an opportunity to grow in my ability to connect, understand, and support others. It’s something I consciously work on, knowing it’s at the heart of building meaningful relationships and providing effective care.”

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

“My journey into psychotherapy began with a deep interest in understanding human behavior and emotions. Growing up, I was always the one people turned to for advice, and I found it fulfilling to help others work through their struggles. As I grew older, I realized that this wasn’t just a personality trait—it was a passion. I pursued my education in psychology, and through my training, I learned not only how to help others but also how to better understand myself. This personal growth fueled my desire to open my own private practice.

As a psychotherapist and owner of a private practice, I work with individuals seeking support in navigating life’s challenges, whether it be through managing stress, healing from trauma, or improving relationships. My goal is to provide a safe and compassionate space where clients can explore their emotions and gain tools to better understand themselves and their experiences. I specialize in Depression, Anxiety, Bipolar Disorder, Stress Management, Self-Esteem Building, Trauma etc. which allows me to work closely with each client to create a personalized path to growth.

What excites me most about this work is witnessing the transformative power of therapy. Seeing someone move from a place of confusion or pain to a state of clarity and empowerment is incredibly rewarding. It reminds me of the resilience we all have and how, with the right support, change is always possible. For those curious about my practice or who feel ready to begin their journey, I encourage you to reach out. Whether you’re dealing with long-standing issues or simply seeking a bit more clarity and peace in life, I’m here to help.

Looking ahead, I am excited about expanding my practice in several exciting directions. This includes offering workshops and integrating mindfulness practices into my sessions. I’m also keen to explore somatic therapy and the fascinating world of neuroscience, particularly in understanding how the brain processes signals from the body. Additionally, I plan to incorporate hypnotherapy and offer psychiatric services, which will allow me to take a more holistic approach to mental health and well-being. These new developments will give clients access to a wider range of tools to support their emotional and psychological growth.”

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

1. Empathy
Impact: Empathy has been central to my work as a psychotherapist. Being able to deeply understand and connect with my clients’ emotions and perspectives allows me to create a safe space for healing. It has not only helped me build trust but also guided me in providing meaningful support.
Advice: Empathy is a skill that grows with practice. For those starting their journey, I recommend actively listening in every conversation—whether personal or professional. Try to gain an understanding of the other person’s point of view before responding. Volunteering or engaging in work that exposes you to different life experiences can also help expand your ability to empathize with others.
2. Resilience
Impact: Resilience has been vital in managing the challenges that come with running a private practice. The journey hasn’t always been smooth, but my ability to bounce back from difficulties, stay committed, and maintain a positive mindset has been key to my growth.
Advice: Developing resilience takes time. One way to start is by viewing setbacks as learning opportunities. Rather than focusing on failures, consider what each experience teaches you and how it can make you stronger. Building a support network—whether through mentors, peers, or friends—can also help you stay grounded and resilient when things get tough.
3. Commitment to Lifelong Learning
Impact: The field of psychotherapy is constantly evolving, and my commitment to learning has kept me current and effective in my work. Whether through formal education, workshops, or simply reading, staying informed has been crucial to my personal and professional development.
Advice: For those early in their journey, approach each day with curiosity. Take advantage of every learning opportunity, whether it’s through continuing education or mentorship. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, attend workshops, or dive into new research. Learning keeps you adaptable and open to new possibilities.

We’ve all got limited resources, time, energy, focus etc – so if you had to choose between going all in on your strengths or working on areas where you aren’t as strong, what would you choose?

I believe it’s important to strike a balance between playing to our strengths and recognizing the value of nurturing our weaknesses. Strengths are indeed important. Focusing on your strengths helps align your values and provides a clear focus for setting and achieving goals. By concentrating on what you do best, you can ensure that your efforts and ambitions are in harmony with your core abilities and values. Focusing on what you’re naturally good at builds confidence and self-esteem, which is crucial for a sense of accomplishment and personal empowerment. However, I also think that real growth comes when we are willing to face the areas where we feel less secure.

Strength, in its truest sense, is more than just excelling at what comes easily to us. It’s about the courage to acknowledge where we can improve and the willingness to put in the effort to grow. Ignoring areas where we are not as strong, in a way, is neglecting a part of ourselves that can be nurtured into something stronger. It’s important to remember that you can be both willing and uncomfortable at the same time—and that’s where growth happens.

In my work as a psychotherapist, many of my clients come to me without a clear understanding of how to regulate their emotions. This often leads to insecurity, as they feel overwhelmed by aspects of themselves they don’t know how to manage. But as they begin working on this, they realize that they had the tools all along—they just weren’t using them because the feeling of vulnerability that comes along with focusing on areas we are not as strong in. It’s a powerful shift when they see that by facing their emotional regulation challenges, they not only become more well-rounded but also develop a deeper sense of self-confidence.

I personally believe that strengths and weaknesses can be the focus at the same time. By acknowledging and improving our weaker areas, we unlock potential that we didn’t know existed. This process creates a fuller, more authentic version of ourselves—one that is capable of much more than we initially imagined.”

“The rare people who do become truly exceptional at something do so not because they believe they’re exceptional. On the contrary, they become amazing because they’re obsessed with improvement.” -Mark Manson

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.prodigytherapeutics.org

Image Credits

Donna Graves