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Meet Our Team
Down-to-earth therapists for real-life struggles
Smart Talk Therapy is a virtual therapy practice supporting women and couples who feel stretched thin, emotionally overloaded, or stuck in patterns that no longer work. Many of our clients come to us feeling anxious, disconnected, overwhelmed by relationship strain, or unsure how to move through a season of change.​
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We are here to listen, collaborate, and help you feel grounded again. No judgment. No pretending. Just thoughtful, compassionate therapy from clinicians who understand what it means to carry a lot while trying to keep everything together.​
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Our work combines evidence-based therapy with genuine human connection, so what you gain in sessions carries into your daily life in meaningful, lasting ways.​
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“Almost every strong woman I know is tired.
Not because she’s weak, but because she carries so much, so quietly.”
If that resonates, you’re probably our people.
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Many of our clients are capable, thoughtful, and high-functioning. They are the ones others rely on. And yet they feel anxious, overstretched, disconnected, or unsure when they stopped feeling like themselves.
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Sometimes you are doing great on paper and crying in the car between errands.
Sometimes you love your kids deeply and still fantasize about a nap that lasts longer than a sitcom episode.
At Smart Talk Therapy, we believe you deserve more than survival mode.
You deserve support that helps you feel grounded, clear, and human again.
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We provide virtual therapy across California, Illinois, New York, and Florida for busy adults who want thoughtful care without fluff or judgment.
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Who We Are
Smart Talk Therapy is a group practice of licensed therapists who value warmth, clarity, and practicality.
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We take therapy seriously, but we do not believe it has to feel stiff or intimidating. Sessions here are collaborative, honest, and tailored to real life. We focus on understanding patterns, building insight, and helping you move forward in ways that feel sustainable.
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You can expect therapy that feels:
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Honest without being overwhelming
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Supportive and conversational
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Grounded and evidence-based
And yes, laughter is welcome. Healing can coexist with humor, especially when life feels heavy and someone has spilled something sticky on the couch again.
Meet Our Therapists
Linda Meier Abdelsayed, LMFT, PMH-C
Founder and Clinical Director
Therapist | California and Illinois
Linda founded Smart Talk Therapy to create a space where high functioning women and couples can receive real support without pressure to have everything figured out. Her work focuses on helping clients feel steadier, more connected, and more like themselves again.
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She brings a practical, relational approach to therapy that values honesty, depth, and real life change over performative insight. Fee: $200/session.
J'Nay Reckard, LMHC
Therapist | Florida and New York
J’nay works with clients navigating anxiety, identity questions, and relationship stress. She brings warmth, steadiness, and curiosity to the therapy space, helping clients slow down and explore what they need with clarity and care.
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Her style is thoughtful and grounding, especially for clients who feel pulled in many directions or unsure where to begin. Fee: $180/session.
Hayley Niles, LMFT, PMH-C
Therapist |California
Hayley supports clients who feel stretched thin by the stressors and anxieties of major life changes. She holds a perinatal mental health (PMH C) certification and works closely with moms navigating the emotional and hormonal shifts of pregnancy, postpartum, and parenthood.
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A mother of three married to a therapist, Hayley brings both professional and lived experience to her work. Her approach is compassionate and collaborative, helping clients recognize patterns and build tools that carry into daily life. Fee: $180/session.
Associate Therapists
Natalie Herriott, MA, AMFT, APCC
Associate Therapist | California
(Working toward licensure under supervision)
Natalie works with clients navigating stress, emotional overwhelm, and identity shifts. She is the primary therapist in the practice who offers Gottman informed couples therapy, supporting partners who want to improve communication, rebuild trust, and feel more connected.
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She brings a calm, grounded presence to sessions and supports clients in moving at a pace that feels manageable and respectful of where they are. Fee: $150/session.
Brittney Austin, MA, AMFT
Associate Therapist | California
(Working toward licensure under supervision)
Brittney supports clients dealing with anxiety, relationship challenges, and emotional overload. She works with individuals who are capable and high functioning but feel worn down or unsure how to care for themselves in the midst of it all.
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Her style is thoughtful and supportive, helping clients build confidence and self trust while creating space for honest, judgment free exploration.
Fee: $150/session.
Felize Lopez, MSW, ACSW
Associate Therapist | California
(Working toward licensure under supervision)
Felize works with clients navigating emotional stress, life transitions, and relationship concerns. She supports individuals who want therapy that feels steady, collaborative, and grounded in real life experiences.
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Her approach is warm and attentive, helping clients feel supported as they build insight and practical tools for everyday life. Fee: $150/session.
How It Works
Start where you are. We will meet you there.
Free 15 minute consultation
Talk with us about what is going on and what kind of support you are looking for.
Get matched with a therapist
We will connect you with someone who understands your world and your goals.
Begin virtual therapy
Flexible scheduling. No commute. Therapy provided virtually to clients located in California.
How We Help
The postpartum period can feel like a fog of emotions. Joy, guilt, overwhelm, exhaustion, and pressure often coexist, sometimes all before breakfast.
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We support new moms navigating postpartum anxiety, identity shifts, intrusive thoughts, and relationship changes. This is a judgment-free space to talk honestly and feel supported, even if you showed up with spit-up on your shirt and forgot what day it is.
When stress builds, relationships often feel strained. Communication breaks down, resentment grows, and connection can feel harder to reach.
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We help individuals and couples understand patterns, improve communication, and reconnect without losing themselves or turning every conversation into a debate about who forgot to take out the trash.
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Being “on” all the time takes a toll. Over time, constant pressure can turn into anxiety, chronic stress, or a sense of emotional numbness.
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We work with high-functioning women who are tired of running on fumes and want support that helps them slow down, reconnect with what truly matters, and let go of what no longer needs to be carried.
Unresolved experiences can shape how you feel, relate, and respond, even if nothing recent feels dramatic enough to name.
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Our trauma-informed therapists support clients in gently exploring and healing at their own pace, with care, consent, and respect for boundaries, so the past has less power over the present.
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Our Therapeutic Approach
We do not believe in one-size-fits-all therapy.
Your care is:
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Grounded in evidence-based approaches such as CBT, ACT, and Gottman-informed work
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Shaped around your goals, values, and pace
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Led by a therapist who understands the pressure of holding everything together and the quiet toll that takes over time
We believe real conversation, empathy, and warmth belong in therapy, especially when life already feels heavy.
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