Meet Katie Smith, CJFS Social Worker

I became a social worker because I wanted to help people in a meaningful way. I joined the staff of CJFS five years ago, after several years of providing counseling services at another agency. Immediately I realized that our agency is unique because we meet the needs of the whole person. I love the fact that if my client needs transportation to a medical appointment, I just call one of my co-workers and set the client up for transportation on Buz-a-Bus; or if my client is running low on food, I set them up for "Just Like Family" services to bring food from our food closet.

I wear a lot of hats at CJFS: Individual & Family Counselor, Guidance Counselor for NEMJDS, Geriatric Care Manager, and Financial Assistance Case Manager. I’m not sure the community really knows the scope of the services we provide. My favorite hat continues to be that of Individual & Family Counselor. Our Counseling services are available to anyone in the Birmingham community, regardless of religion. I am one of three social workers that provide counseling for a variety of client concerns; we are all Master’s degree-level, LCSW-licensed social workers, so CJFS is able to provide confidential, high-quality counseling on a sliding-fee scale in a professional setting.

This time of year can be especially hard for some -- gatherings with extended family sometimes increase anxiety; media images of love and family can induce feelings of loneliness and isolation; financial pressure increases with gift giving; and a reduction of daylight hours can cause seasonal depression. If you find yourself getting the winter blues, try to fit in a walk outside, or sit in the sun on your lunch break. Or talk to someone – a friend, a clergy member, or a counselor.

Counseling doesn’t necessarily mean visiting the office once a week on an ongoing basis; sometimes people benefit from short-term therapy about a specific issue they are dealing with, like job stress or a relationship issue. Also, I believe everyone benefits from having an objective person with whom to discuss worries. And, CJFS can work with you on an affordable plan.

If you are interested in counseling, you may read more on our Counseling page.