Lovea Smith, LCPC, is currently the Director of Support Services at Housing Opportunities for Women (H.O.W). Lovea began her career in corrections at the Cook County Department of Corrections Women’s Justice Services, where she became interested in domestic violence, women’s issues, and homelessness. Lovea has worked as a therapist for more than 17 years with various agencies throughout Chicago, Northwest Indiana, and Normal, Illinois and most recently providing therapy to clients using an online portal through web-based interactions such as text, phone, and video. Lovea also has developed, conducted, and facilitated trainings for various agencies, including Chicago Foundation for Women’s Willie Warriors cohort in May 2019.

Lovea has a passion for cooking as she learned early that “food feeds the soul.” She also enjoys traveling, meeting new people, adventure, music, food, classic reruns, comedies, and romantic dramas. Lovea is a Chicago native, the oldest of four children, and a mother of one daughter, Ashera. She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Illinois State University in 2004. She later graduated from Chicago School of Professional Psychology in 2007 and obtained a master’s degree in clinical psychology with an emphasis in counseling.