Ki Smith, MA, LPCC
IFS & Conflict Transformation
Ki Smith, MA, LPCC, is an Internal Family Systems–trained contemplative psychotherapist, mediator, coach, educator, and facilitator specializing in power-conscious communication, relational healing, ethical uses of power, and conflict transformation. Ki uses she/they pronouns and works through Warrior Wisdom, a Boulder-based practice offering counseling, coaching, courses, mediation, and organizational learning for individuals, intimate relationships, groups, and professional communities.
Ki Smith, MA, LPCC, integrates Internal Family Systems, contemplative psychotherapy, Nonviolent Communication, mindfulness, and the Right Use of Power framework. This combination helps clients and participants examine both their internal reactions and the interpersonal or systemic conditions surrounding a conflict. Rather than viewing disagreement as proof that a person or relationship is broken, Ki encourages curiosity about protective responses, unmet needs, emotional histories, differences in authority, and the multiple perspectives that may be present.
Ki Smith, MA, LPCC, approaches healing as an individual, relational, and collective process. Their work emphasizes slowing down automatic reactions, listening without immediately preparing a defense, communicating needs more clearly, acknowledging impact, and remaining accountable without relying on humiliation or coercion. This approach is especially relevant for clinicians and organizations seeking ways to address conflict while preserving dignity, choice, and meaningful connection.
Professional Background
Ki Smith, MA, LPCC, earned an undergraduate degree in psychology from James Madison University in 2007. After graduation, Ki completed an AmeriCorps service year with City Year in Seattle Public Schools, working with high-school students across King County. During that period, Ki also began studying meditation and Buddhist psychology, which later became important influences on their clinical and educational approach.
Ki Smith, MA, LPCC, later worked with children experiencing psychiatric crises at Albertina Kerr’s short-term inpatient program in Oregon. In that setting, Ki received training in Collaborative Problem Solving and developed experience supporting young people whose behavior was shaped by trauma, emotional distress, limited coping capacity, and difficult environmental conditions. This work contributed to an approach that looks beneath behavior instead of treating a visible reaction as the complete clinical problem.
Ki Smith, MA, LPCC, began actively studying Nonviolent Communication in 2016 and subsequently co-taught communication courses and practice groups within a meditation community. Ki later completed graduate study at Naropa University, earning a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a concentration in Contemplative Psychotherapy and Buddhist Psychology in May 2022.
Ki Smith, MA, LPCC, founded Warrior Wisdom in February 2023. The practice combines counseling, coaching, mediation, facilitation, consulting, and community education. Current materials identify Internal Family Systems, contemplative psychotherapy, Nonviolent Communication, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and the Right Use of Power as principal influences on the work. Services include support for individual adults and people in varied intimate-relationship structures.
Ki Smith, MA, LPCC, currently serves as Core Faculty with the Right Use of Power Institute. The institute identifies Ki as an IFS-trained contemplative psychotherapist, coach, mediator, and facilitator of Power-Conscious Nonviolent Communication. This role includes education focused on using personal, professional, role-based, and systemic power with greater awareness, compassion, accountability, and skill.
Ki Smith, MA, LPCC, also created Language for the Open-Hearted Warrior, a 12-week interactive program integrating Nonviolent Communication, Internal Family Systems, mindfulness, and Right Use of Power principles. The course supports participants in recognizing habitual communication patterns, responding to conflict with greater choice, identifying the influence of power, and developing skills for clearer expression and relational repair.
Areas of Expertise
Internal Family Systems–Informed Practice. Ki Smith, MA, LPCC, uses an IFS-informed framework to help clients approach inner conflict with greater compassion and curiosity. Anger, withdrawal, perfectionism, self-criticism, control, or emotional detachment may function as protective strategies rather than simply unwanted symptoms. The work involves understanding what those reactions are attempting to prevent and helping clients develop a less polarized relationship with their internal experiences. Clinical Events’ Demystifying Internal Family Systems Therapy resource provides related background on parts, protective roles, Self-leadership, and internal conflict.
Power-Conscious Nonviolent Communication. Ki’s communication work builds on Nonviolent Communication while explicitly examining differences in role, authority, privilege, identity, vulnerability, and access to resources. Empathy is not treated as a substitute for responsibility. Participants are encouraged to consider who controls an outcome, who faces the greater risk, whose perspective has traditionally been centered, and whether an invitation to connect could unintentionally pressure someone to minimize harm.
Ethical Uses of Power. Power exists in therapy, supervision, leadership, education, intimate relationships, and community work even when the person holding greater authority has good intentions. Ki helps professionals examine how power affects consent, feedback, emotional safety, decision-making, conflict, and the freedom to disagree. Clinical Events’ guide to ethical practice, boundaries, confidentiality, and competence offers complementary guidance on autonomy, power differentials, professional judgment, and accountability.
Conflict Transformation and Relational Repair. Ki supports clients and participants in slowing down recurring conflict cycles. One person may pursue while another withdraws, one may become critical while the other becomes defensive, or both may struggle to communicate vulnerable feelings beneath anger and self-protection. The work emphasizes distinguishing observations from interpretations, recognizing internal activation, communicating requests without disguising them as demands, and taking responsibility for impact.
Contemplative Psychotherapy and Mindfulness. Ki’s contemplative background supports attention to present-moment experience, emotional reactivity, physical sensation, compassion, and the therapeutic relationship. Mindfulness is used to create more space around an automatic reaction—not to pressure clients into becoming calm or accepting harmful circumstances. The aim is to notice what is happening internally with enough clarity to respond more intentionally.
LGBTQIA+, Nonmonogamy, and Relationship Diversity. Current professional profiles describe Ki’s services as LGBTQIA+, polyamory-, nonmonogamy-, and kink-affirming. Ki works with adults and intimate partners across varied identities and relationship structures, with attention to communication, gender and sexuality, emotional regulation, boundaries, parts work, and the effects of social power on relationships.
Mediation, Facilitation, and Organizational Learning. Beyond psychotherapy, Ki provides mediation, coaching, retreats, courses, and customized programs for groups and organizations. This work applies power-conscious and relational principles to leadership, team conflict, communication, organizational culture, collective care, and the development of more accountable working relationships.
Therapeutic Presence and Compassionate Accountability. Ki’s approach asks professionals to remain curious and relationally present without becoming passive about harm. Compassionate accountability can include naming impact, setting boundaries, acknowledging power, making repair, and tolerating discomfort without turning immediately toward blame, punishment, avoidance, or forced reconciliation. Clinical Events’ training on therapeutic rapport, trust, and engagement provides related guidance on validation, psychological safety, and repairing relational ruptures.