Biography

Sarah Smith, LCSW-R is an EMDRIA Approved Consultant in Buffalo, NY. Sarah obtained her MSW in social work in 1994 and worked in a community mental health for several years. She worked primarily with addictions and mental health. Early in her career she observed women in addiction treatment had encountered specific challenges to treatment, and was able to address some of these needs through specialized groups.  Sarah was initially trained in EMDR Therapy in 2008, and since that time has attended trainings including but not limited to working with dissociative disorders, co-occurring addiction and mental health, recent event protocols and eating disorders.   She has also presented on Addiction and EMDR Therapy as well as a series on Vicarious Trauma and Vicarious Resilience.  In addition, she also has a specialty working with Traumatic Brain Injury.  She is also a member of the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation. In addition to education, training and experience conducting therapy, Sarah also has several years in recovery from addiction.  Recovery is her priority, and she has experienced the dual relationship of recovery from substances and trauma.   As she has found, this appears to be never quite done!  Self awareness when working with individuals who have experienced trauma is essential for this work.