Stefanie F. Smith, Ph.D.

I am a licensed clinical psychologist with over 25 years of experience specializing in trauma-informed care and trauma-specific interventions. Throughout my career, I’ve had the privilege of working in a wide range of settings, including education, legal, community mental health, healthcare, field-based acute response, and non-profit organizations. I work with individuals who have experienced various forms of trauma, including childhood trauma, complex trauma, single incident/acute trauma, abuse, loss, interpersonal violence, and disaster. My approach to therapy is rooted in compassion, empathy, and a deep understanding of how trauma affects every aspect of a person’s life. I specialize in trauma-specific services, offering both individual therapy and comprehensive, trauma-responsive care.

I began my career working with Dr. Julian Ford (author of Complex Trauma: A Sequenced, Relationship-Based Approach and developer of Trauma Affect Regulation: Guide for Education and Therapy (TARGET©) model for and youth adults with complex PTSD) and then as part of Dr. Bessel van der Kolk’s (who wrote the Body Keeps the Score) team. I have been trained in over 15 evidence-based modalities, including ones specific to trauma such as Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Trauma and Grief Component Therapy for Adolescents, Seeking Safety, Psychological First Aid, Skills for Psychological Recovery, and Attachment, Self-Regulation, and Competencies (ARC). I have also been training in Somatic Experiencing and other body-based interventions. All these approaches help to reprocess trauma, alleviate symptoms of post-traumatic stress and other trauma-related symptoms, and promote healing both mentally and physically.

I am dedicated to advancing the field of trauma care through training, research, and consultation. I consult with agencies on trauma-informed care, train future and current providers and present at professional conferences in the area of trauma. I have also authored several publications on trauma, including articles and book chapters, and co-edited International Perspectives on Traumatic Stress. My most recent work includes an article on appeasement as a survival strategy and a chapter on complementary Healing Practices in Ford & Courtois’ Treating Complex Traumatic Stress Disorders: Scientific Foundations and Therapeutic Models. My scholarship work also includes trauma-informed yoga, Polyvagal equine therapy, and arts and movement based interventions.

I stay active in the field as an affiliate member of the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN), a trainer for the Complex Trauma Training Consortium, and former member of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS), where I’ve chaired the Cultural Diversity Special Interest Group and served on the Diversity Committee. I also serve as an expert trauma witness, mainly for the San Francisco’s District Attorney’s Office.

My goal is to provide a safe, non-judgmental space where you can explore your experiences, gain insight into your emotional responses, and develop effective coping strategies. I believe in a holistic approach to healing, understanding that trauma affects not just the mind but also the body and spirit. I can draw upon a wealth of experience and treatment approaches to support you in navigating the effects of trauma, working with you to heal, regain control, and move toward a place of resilience and peace.