Smithson Counseling, Andy Smithson, LCSW

06/18/2026

A lot of people have asked about the Mental Health seminar I presented at the Wilson Theatre. I'm excited that it is now available to all. This course covers some of the most essential principles and tools of mental health for everyone that wants to lead a happier, healthier life!

05/15/2026

Alert to all of friends in the Mini-cassia area...
SMITHSON COUNSELING IS HIRING!

Clinic Assistant:
The Clinical Assistant is responsible for providing support for counseling practice, including scheduling patient visits, collecting data, and providing clients with an amazing experience. It also includes returning phone calls, prefer someone with visual media and marketing knowledge and experience (social media). Duties also include event planning and keeping the office neat and presentable. You will be assisting the owner with maintaining and building MindWire Neurofeedback, an exciting service offered by Smithson Counseling. Must be excited to work with and help people, and be warm, professional, able to set good professional boundaries and presentable. Pay is dependent on experience and expertise and will include opportunities for growth and expansion in the future. Hours currently are between 25-30 per/week with room for that to grow.
Pay will be $16-20 p/hr. to start.

If you or anyone you know is looking for a great job that really makes a difference in our community send me a email of interest along with a resume to my email: [email protected]

05/13/2026

💬 Ask a Therapist Night with Andy Smithson, LCSW
Have questions about mental health, relationships, parenting, or stress?
Join local therapist Andy Smithson, LCSW for an open, compassionate evening where you can ask real questions and get grounded, practical support.

This is a relaxed, judgment‑free space designed to help you understand yourself and your loved ones with more clarity, confidence, and calm.

Event Details
🗓 Thursday, May 14
⏰ 7:00 PM
📍 Conference Room at Urgent Care of Idaho
382 N Overland Ave, Burley, Idaho
💵 $5 Admission
📞 Call 208‑679‑9912 to reserve your spot

What to Expect
Honest, accessible answers from a trained therapist

Tools you can use right away

A welcoming environment where every question is valid

Space to learn, breathe, and feel supported

You don’t have to have everything figured out.
You just have to show up.

05/13/2026

Destroy Approval Seeking! The Yellow Pillow Trick

https://youtube.com/shorts/dq0fCiiP9ps

Destroy Approval Seeking: The Yellow Pillow Trick
If I hold up a yellow pillow and tell you it’s blue, you wouldn't believe me. Why? Because you have clarity. But when someone calls you a failure or "lazy," why do we suddenly lose that certainty?
In this video, I’m sharing the "Yellow Pillow Trick" to help you build an identity shield. When you have radical self-clarity, you stop needing to convince others of your worth. You don't need to defend the truth.
Learn how to kill approval-seeking behavior and build unshakeable self-worth.

Destroy Approval Seeking: The Yellow Pillow TrickIf I hold up a yellow pillow and tell you it’s blue, you wouldn't believe me. Why? Because you have clarity....

05/12/2026

🌿 Breathwork, Relaxation & Positive Visualization: Small Practices, Big Impact
Our brains are constantly responding to the world around us — and the way we breathe, relax, and think can shift our entire mental landscape. Simple practices like deep breathing, progressive relaxation, and positive visualization activate the parasympathetic nervous system, the part of the body responsible for rest, healing, and emotional balance.

When we slow our breath, release tension, and intentionally picture something good, we reduce stress, quiet anxiety, improve focus, and strengthen resilience. These tools can support mental health, improve sleep, and help manage conditions like depression, anxiety, and PTSD.

One of Andy’s favorite tools is the Quick Calm Technique, a 5–10 minute daily reset:

Emotion Check-In — Rate your emotion from 1–10

Deep, regulated breathing — Slow, steady, intentional

Release tension — Scan from head to toe and soften tight areas

Calm place + intentional smile — Think of a positive thought and smile on purpose

Re-rate your emotion — Notice the shift

These small, repeatable practices help the brain return to clarity and calm — one breath, one moment at a time.

05/11/2026

💬 Ask a Therapist Night with Andy Smithson, LCSW
Have questions about mental health, relationships, parenting, or stress?
Join us for an open, honest conversation with local therapist Andy Smithson, LCSW — a welcoming space where you can ask anything and get real, compassionate answers.

ONLY $5!

🗓 Thursday, May 14th
⏰ 7:00 PM
📍 Conference Room at Urgent Care of Idaho
382 N Overland Ave, Burley, Idaho

✨ This evening is all about connection, clarity, and community. Andy will share insights on anxiety, boundaries, trauma, and everyday challenges — helping you understand yourself and your loved ones with empathy and confidence.

💛 Everyone is welcome — come ready to learn, connect, and grow.
📞 RSVP required: Call 208‑679‑9912 to reserve your spot.

Let’s make mental health a community conversation.

05/11/2026

From Shame to Kindness in 120 Seconds

https://youtube.com/shorts/_ZmwzTx7lY8

Before the shame spiral starts and the self-attack takes over, use this 2-minute kindness practice to stop it cold. 🛑 There are 3 simple steps to move from isolated shame to shared humanity, compassion and kindness.
Here is the practice: 1️⃣ Name it: Put your hand on your heart and say, "This is a moment of suffering." Don’t minimize it; just acknowledge the pain is real. 2️⃣ Connect: Say, "Suffering is part of life. I’m not the only one who feels this way." This shifts you from isolation to shared humanity. 3️⃣ Choose Kindness: Keep your hand on your heart and say, "May I be kind to myself right now."
Use this anywhere, anytime the spiral starts to build. You deserve compassion, especially from yourself.
✨ GO DEEPER: There are 5 more powerful practices in the full video linked below to help you build lasting emotional resilience.
Watch the Full Video Here

39 likes, 8 comments. "From Shame to Kindness in 120 Seconds"

05/07/2026

🌿 The Power of Gratitude: What It Does to Your Brain & Body
Gratitude isn’t just a pleasant feeling — it’s a neurological training tool. When you intentionally acknowledge the good in your life, your brain responds in measurable, powerful ways.

🧠 Brain Benefits
Activates the medial prefrontal cortex, the same region targeted in depression treatments

Boosts dopamine and serotonin, increasing motivation and emotional resilience

Interrupts rumination loops, helping the mind shift out of negativity

💛 Mental & Emotional Benefits
Increases happiness and life satisfaction

Reduces stress and anxiety

Strengthens connection to others

Builds long-term emotional resilience

💪 Physical Benefits
Improves sleep quality

Strengthens the immune system

Lowers inflammation

Supports overall well-being

Gratitude is simple, accessible, and scientifically powerful — a small daily practice with a big ripple effect.

🌟 Weekly Challenge: Choose One Gratitude Exercise
Pick one practice to do for 2–5 minutes each day this week. Small, consistent actions create the biggest change.

1. Gratitude Journaling
Write down three specific things you’re grateful for.
Focus on details — the texture, the moment, the feeling.
This deepens the emotional imprint and strengthens the neural pathway.

2. Gratitude Letter
Write a short letter to someone who has impacted your life.
You can send it or keep it private — both create emotional benefit.
This practice boosts connection and activates empathy circuits in the brain.

3. Gratitude Walk
Take a slow, mindful walk.
Notice what’s beautiful, comforting, or supportive in your environment.
Let your senses guide you — warmth, color, sound, movement.

🌱 Why This Works
Gratitude doesn’t erase hardship — it widens your lens.
It teaches your brain to notice what’s steady, supportive, or hopeful, even when life feels heavy.
And with repetition, your brain literally changes shape to make that perspective more natural.

Contact us at Smithson Counseling today!
📞 208‑679‑9912
🌐 smithsoncounseling.com

Your story matters. Your healing matters. And you don’t have to walk it alone.

05/07/2026

Stop Defending! Try This 5% Trick for Criticism

https://youtube.com/shorts/LvvsOOJcEkA

Next time someone criticizes you, don't defend. Instead, ask yourself: Is there even 5% truth in this? Not 100%, just 5. This one simple shift keeps you growing instead of staying stuck in defensiveness. Pause, breathe, and find the smallest piece of truth most people miss.


Welcome to Principled Therapy: Your trusted guide to actionable psychology for emotional wellness and self-mastery.

Overwhelmed by anxiety, struggling with daily stress, or seeking depression relief? I simplify complex mental health and self-help concepts into clear, practical, and evidence-based strategies you can use. My therapeutic principles are transformed into tangible tools for emotional regulation, resilience, and personal growth.

Next time someone criticizes you, don't defend. Instead, ask yourself: Is there even 5% truth in this? Not 100%, just 5. This one simple shift keeps you grow...

05/06/2026

Ask a Therapist Night — You’re Invited
Have questions about parenting, relationships, stress, or emotional wellness?
Join us for Ask a Therapist Night with Andy Smithson, LCSW — a relaxed, judgment‑free space where you can bring your real questions and get real support.

Whether you’re navigating a tough season, wanting to understand your child better, or simply curious about how counseling works, this evening is designed to help you feel informed, encouraged, and empowered.

**ONLY $5**

Event Details:
🗓 Thursday, May 14
⏰ 7:00 PM
📍 Urgent Care of Idaho – Conference Room
382 N Overland Ave, Burley, Idaho

RSVP: 208-679-9912

What to expect:

Honest, compassionate answers from a trained therapist

Practical tools you can use right away

A welcoming environment where every question is valid

Space to learn, connect, and breathe a little easier

You don’t have to have it all figured out.
You just have to show up.

We’d love to see you there.