Lura Smedstad , LPC

Lura Smedstad brings more than two decades of counseling experience to her practice, combining spiritual respect, creative therapeutic art processes, and a solid cognitive behavioral therapy foundation to support adults and teens in healing and growth. She emphasizes the inner wisdom present in each person and guides clients toward reconnecting with that Voice of Wisdom to inform choices and build resilience.

Her work focuses on easing the impacts of trauma, anxiety, depression, and grief while helping clients set realistic, sustainable life goals and strengthen healthy relationships. She blends practical CBT techniques with art-informed methods to tailor interventions to each individual or couple, aiming for approaches that are direct yet compassionate. Lura earned a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a concentration in Art Therapy from Prescott College in 2014 and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Fine Arts from Minneapolis College of Art and Design and St. Cloud State University.

Her background includes ministerial partnership and leadership of a multi-year personal growth school, practicums in counseling and art therapy at a psychiatric hospital, and years of clinical practice in both community and clinic settings. Lura is a Licensed Professional Counselor - LPC - practicing in Minnesota and has provided telehealth services from her home office since 2020.

Evidence-Informed Approaches for Online Care

Lura Smedstad uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Emotionally-Focused Therapy, and Mindfulness-based techniques to support clients in online sessions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying patterns of thinking and behavior that contribute to distress and teaching practical skills to change those patterns, which can help with anxiety, depression, and problematic habits. Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) centers on identifying and reshaping emotional responses within relationships, helping couples and individuals improve connection, attachment, and intimacy. Mindfulness Therapy teaches present-moment awareness and gentle acceptance of experience, offering tools for stress reduction and better emotional regulation.

Finding the right combination of these approaches is part of Lura's collaborative process. She works with clients to understand their needs, goals, and preferences and tailors treatment plans so that techniques from different models are integrated in ways that feel useful and manageable.

Online therapy with Lura is offered through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, which makes scheduling more flexible and allows work to continue from different locations. These options help clients access licensed professionals and therapists without requiring travel, supporting continuity of care when life circumstances change.