Rebecca Smith-Nash, MA, LPC-S, has been in the mental health field since 2003 and a solo practitioner since 2006. Her passion for ensuring children receive the best possible care reaches beyond her home to the extent that she treats children in foster care like her own flesh and blood.
After graduating from Southwest Texas State University and Sam Houston State University, Rebecca attended the Ph.D. program for counseling for five semesters. In 2011, she founded the Counseling Center of Montgomery County, where she began providing free services across the county.
Rebecca founded Love Heals Youth, a 501(c)(3) organization that provides free mental health services to foster youth. Love Heals Youth currently serves eleven different organizations, from orphanages to homeless shelters.
Rebecca’s interest in foster care started in her youth as she watched shows like Annie and Punky Brewster. Her focus is to improve the lives of foster children by offering free counseling to them without billing Medicaid, group homes, or families, removing financial barriers.
She also holds her own family dear to her heart. “My two boys, Shane and Stephen, are homeschooled three days a week, allowing me to play an integral role in ensuring they are raised in a steadfast faith,” she said.
Along with Jerry, her husband of two years, she maintains a strong family dynamic. “Jerry is my biggest supporter in every endeavor, and my kids are what makes my heart beat. Teaching my kids about serving others is one of my greatest joys.”
Another joy was having one of her poems turned into a song by award-winning music artist Payton Riley. “God is my strength for every step I take,” said Rebecca. "I find myself in prayer seeking guidance, and without fail, God continues to lead me in exactly the direction I need to go.”