Holistic Jungian therapist specializing in trauma and relationships
Hi, I’m Sandy Smith (or Dr. Sandy). I have enjoyed working with people from all walks of life as they encounter challenges or roadblocks to finding joy and satisfaction in their lives, relationships and/or circumstances. I am a licensed therapist (LCSW) in Utah and California. I bring over 20 years of experience in counseling, coaching, and teaching college at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. I have worked in a variety of settings including family and trauma centered agencies, hospitals, (including a crisis team, emergency departments, maternity, labor and delivery, and NICU), and also have spent many years working in a prison as a primary clinician for inmates with moderate to severe mental health issues and with a variety of levels of criminal history. I have been fortunate in being able to bring my expertise to any and all situations and recognize how finding joy in our relationships with others, as well as at work and home, can so greatly impact our overall joy in life.
Relationships can be so wonderful! But, they can also be the source of pain and self-sacrifice. For this reason we can say that these are some of the times we grow the most in life as we learn to balance our own needs with the needs of others. Early on , I worked for our state’s Governor’s Commission on Marriage heading a focus group where we researched helpful marriage and relationship enrichment programs. Foundational to success is communication and understanding. I was fortunate to have been mentored by experts in the field. I have enjoyed witnessing the growth and success of many people and couples more successfully navigate their significant relationships. I take a holistic approach, looking at all of the possible pieces to the puzzle of life and it’s many kinds of relationships. This means taking into consideration all of the things that can and do affect a person or a relationship’s integrity and happiness, such as their history, personal and relational, their physical, social, spiritual, financial, mental and emotional experiences, challenges and needs. I have also been able to help many people with either current or previous physical trauma and/or emotional abuse and work with partners in relationships with someone with an abuse or trauma history.
I’d love to be part of your journey.
My counseling style is warm and interactive. I believe in treating all people with respect, sensitivity, and compassion, and I dislike judging and labels. I always want to understand your specific concerns and allow you to guide treatment to meet your unique and specific needs.
Thank you for considering seeking support – it’s an important step for your life, even if it isn’t an easy one!
Licensed · Professional · Cancel Anytime
Dr. Sandra Smith, often called Dr. Sandy, is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) with 24 years of experience. She is licensed in Utah and California and holds a Utah LCSW license number 103299-3501. Her background includes counseling, coaching, and teaching at both graduate and undergraduate college levels.
Dr. Smith has practiced in a wide range of settings, including family- and trauma-centered agencies and hospitals. Her hospital work has included positions on a crisis team and in emergency departments, as well as work in maternity, labor and delivery, and the NICU. She also spent many years working inside a prison as the primary clinician for inmates with moderate to severe mental health issues and with a variety of criminal histories.
Early in her career she worked with the state Governor’s Commission on Marriage, where she led a focus group researching marriage and relationship enrichment programs. Those experiences, along with mentorship from experts in the field, shaped her focus on communication and mutual understanding as foundational to relationship success.
Dr. Smith takes a holistic approach to therapy, considering the full context of a person’s life. She looks at personal and relational history as well as physical, social, spiritual, financial, mental, and emotional factors that can influence well-being. She has supported many people coping with current or past physical trauma and emotional abuse, and she works with partners whose relationships are affected by a history of trauma or abuse.
Her counseling style is warm and interactive. She seeks to treat people with respect, sensitivity, and compassion, avoiding judgment and labels, and she encourages clients to guide treatment so it fits their unique needs. Dr. Smith values the opportunity to be part of a person’s journey toward greater satisfaction and joy, and she thanks those considering support for taking that important step.
Many people wonder whether online therapy can truly help. For common concerns such as stress, anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, or navigating life transitions, online therapy has been shown to be as effective as traditional in-person sessions.
One major benefit is flexibility. Clients can connect with a therapist in the format that works best for them – video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or in-app messaging – which makes fitting therapy into a busy life easier.
All participating therapists are licensed professionals, and clients have the option to change therapists if they want a different fit.
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