An Inspired Chat with Jessica LeAnn Smith of West End

We recently had the chance to connect with Jessica LeAnn Smith and have shared our conversation below.

Jessica LeAnn, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
At this time in my life I believe I am being called to lead louder, live softer, and trust deeper. For a long time, I felt most comfortable behind the scenes—working hard, building the vision, holding space for others. But now, I feel a strong pull to step out more boldly, to use my voice, and to share the wisdom that’s come from both the wins and the growing pains.

At the same time, I’m learning to honor softness as strength. Resting. Receiving. Letting life be full, not just productive. And more than anything, I’m being asked to trust—God, myself, timing, and the ways everything is aligning, even when it doesn’t look how I expected. It’s a stretch, but it’s sacred. And I’m leaning into it.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Jessica Smith, LPC-MHSP, AS—therapist, clinical supervisor, speaker, owner and founder of Smith Behavioral Health & Wellness, a group mental health therapy practice based in Nashville, TN. I created this space to offer holistic, culturally responsive mental health care that centers the full experience of BIPOC communities—especially high-achieving Black women who are often holding so much.

At SmithBHW, we focus on the eight dimensions of wellness to help our clients move from survival to true, sustainable healing. Whether it’s through individual therapy, therapy intensives, workshops, or soon-to-launch group and corporate wellness programs, our goal is to support people in creating lives that feel grounded, spacious, and aligned.

I also run JSmith: Clinical Supervision, Speaking, and Teaching, where I support new and seasoned therapists through clinical supervision, mentorship, and consulting. I’m passionate about helping clinicians—especially therapists of color—find their voice, clarify their vision, and build practices that reflect who they truly are.

Over the last few years, I’ve been doing my own deep work and shifting how I live and lead. After navigating some major life transitions—including my home flooding, traveling while running my business, and now navigating a new chapter in my personal life—I’m doing things differently. That calling is showing up in everything I’m creating: therapy intensives rooted in holistic healing, More Than Strong gatherings for Black women to foster community and normalize rest, and new ways to support therapists who want freedom and fulfillment—not just busyness.

This work is personal. It’s about healing, yes—but also liberation. And I’m committed to walking that out in my own life while helping others do the same.

Okay, so here’s a deep one: What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
One part of me that I believe has served its purpose—and that I’m learning to release—is the part that felt like she had to hustle to prove her worth. The one who kept saying yes even when she was tired, who poured into everyone else while staying behind the scenes, and who carried the weight of being “the strong one” in almost every space.

That part of me helped me build two successful businesses, show up for my community, and navigate some really challenging seasons. She gave me structure, drive, and resilience. I’m grateful for her—but I also know she was rooted in survival, fear, and anxiety.

Now, I’m in a different place. I’m being called to lead from a place of ease, alignment, and trust. I don’t need to prove anything—I just need to be present, grounded, and clear. That means letting go of overextending, choosing rest without guilt, and allowing softness to be part of my strength.

It’s not about doing less—it’s about doing things differently. More aligned. More honest. More whole.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
There have definitely been moments where I felt like giving up. One that stands out was when we made some major changes at the practice—shifts that were necessary for the health of the business and the sustainability of our team—but they weren’t easy. Clients were upset, and I found myself having to personally respond to concerns, explain decisions, and try to hold space for their frustration, all while managing my own stress behind the scenes.

It was one of those moments where I questioned everything. I remember thinking, “Maybe this is too much. Maybe I’m not cut out for this kind of leadership.” It’s hard when you’re trying to do what’s best long-term, but in the short-term, it feels like everything is unraveling. And when you’re a therapist, it hits even deeper, because you’re holding people’s emotional experiences while navigating your own.

But that moment taught me a lot. It reminded me that leadership isn’t about keeping everyone happy—it’s about being aligned, being transparent, and making decisions that support the mission, even when it’s uncomfortable. I had to step into a deeper level of courage and trust. And honestly, it has made me a better leader, a better communicator, and more rooted in the “why” behind everything I do.

I didn’t give up. I recalibrated. And that moment, as painful as it was, helped shape the kind of practice I want to lead—one that’s sustainable, values-driven, and not afraid of growing pains.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
One belief I’m committed to—no matter how long it takes—is that healing is possible for everyone, especially for the Black community. I deeply believe that we deserve access to holistic, culturally affirming care that helps us not just function, but actually feel whole. That belief is at the core of everything I do—whether it’s through therapy, supervision, community spaces, or the way I structure my practice.

One of the projects I’m most committed to right now is More Than Strong: Embracing Every Part of You—a space I created for Black women to lay down the pressure to constantly be strong and instead make room for softness, rest, and self-compassion. That group means so much to me, and I’m committed to reaching as many women as I can with that message. Because we deserve to feel supported, held, and allowed to be human.

I’m also in the long game of building something sustainable—something that doesn’t just serve others, but also allows me to live a life that feels spacious and aligned. I want to create an ecosystem where therapists of color thrive, where clients feel truly seen, and where healing doesn’t require self-sacrifice.

It’s not about quick wins. It’s about legacy work. And I’m here for it, as long as it takes.

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: If you laid down your name, role, and possessions—what would remain?
If I laid down my name, my role, and all of my possessions—what would remain is the core of who I am. The part of me that knows how to hold space, how to listen deeply, how to love well. The part that’s always been a healer, even before I had the title or the credentials.

My presence. My intuition. My vision. My calling. Those things aren’t tied to a job or a business—they’re just who I am. I’ve spent years holding other people, while also learning how to come home to myself. And even without the roles and the work, I know that I would still be worthy, still be enough, and still be deeply rooted in purpose.

Because underneath it all, I’m still the woman who believes in healing, who leads with heart, and who is committed to building a life that’s aligned—with or without the labels.

Contact Info:

• Website: w
• Instagram: @smithbehavioralhealth
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-smith-60500a15/
• Facebook: Smith Behavioral Health