About SMILE Therapy Services
"SMILE Therapy Services is one of our most trusted and collaborative partners in the DC mental health community. Their leadership is truly committed to the wellbeing of DC residents, and they go above and beyond to ensure quality care and excellence.
With them, we are able to provide the DC community with continuity of care, alignment in approach, and collaborative advocacy, and SMILE has made that possible."
- Megan McCormick, Co-Founder of Medstar Georgetown Center for Wellbeing in School Environment
SMILE Therapy Services is an award-winning mental health and wellness agency focused on helping leaders cultivate a healthy workplace culture that increases employee retention, productivity and happiness. Top clients include Microsoft, Aetna, DC Government, American Kidney Fund, Georgetown University Hospital and DC Public as well as Charter Schools.
As a black and 100% women-owned company, we take immense pride in holding high quality employee wellness trainings and leadership development programs across the country. Our agency consists of an elite team of licensed social workers, professional counselors, marriage and family therapists.
We embrace our mission each day. We are committed to providing the best mental health services possible to help unleash more thriving and contributing citizens to our society.
Since our inception, we have focused on hiring diverse professionals who can meet the needs of our growing clientele. Each of our workshop facilitators holds extensive experience and integrity for the work we facilitate within companies.
Additionally, SMILE Therapy Services is proudly certified as a Minority Business Enterprise (NMSDC), Women- Owned Business (WBENC), Washington-DC CBE and 8(a).
OUR FOUNDER
Christi Venable is an award-winning Business Owner, Speaker, Organizational Leadership and Culture Change Expert. She’s the founder of SMILE Therapy Services, a multi-million dollar business that she managed to build from the ground up.
Raised in Southeast D.C. by a single mother, Christi’s story reflects resilience, faith and incredible drive.
After earning her professional counselor’s license, Christi began working inside middle schools as part of her mission to reduce stigmas on mental health in the minority community.
That’s when she noticed a widening gap -- a lack of quality mental health services for those who need it most. In 2015, she launched SMILE Therapy Services in Washington D.C. with one employee -- herself.
Today, Christi employs more than 28 therapists -- all people of color -- while continuing to serve individuals, school systems and fortune 500 organizations.
As a leadership and culture expert, she’s now helping top leaders improve their culture so they can increase employee wellness, retention and build a happy workforce. No matter the industry, you can count on Christi’s team to weave in leadership trainings focused on emotional intelligence, productivity and effective communication.
In 2020, Christi was awarded the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Small Business Person of the Year for Washington D.C.