Andrew Smith, PhD

About 

I have a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology and I have been a practicing therapist since 1997.  I am currently serving as President of the Sacramento Valley Psychological Association, a position that connects me with many physicians as I work to strengthen physician-psychologist ties within the Sacramento Valley. 

I have specialized training and experience in working with health conditions, substance use disorders, trauma, anxiety and depression, sleep disorders, marital issues, parent-child concerns, and issues related to spirituality.  I have worked in a variety of settings that have helped to inform my current areas of expertise. I have trained and worked in healthcare settings, including having served 13 years as a UC Davis adjunct clinical professor of behavioral medicine. Within these settings I have developed and facilitated integrated behavioral health programs in chronic pain and substance use disorders. I am on the Board of Directors of the Medical Education Research Foundation, and I am an assistant professor of psychology at California Northstate University.

My approach to treatment is balanced and centered around your needs. I often use my knowledge of medical culture to combine psychotherapy with coaching approaches to help foster a greater sense of connection to your work and family lives. I view problems and solutions from a bio-psycho-social approach, which integrates one’s physical and mental health with enhancing one’s connection to their community of loved ones and friends as well as the larger communities in their life. I work to help you identify your goals and current obstacles, and I help you to find solutions that work within the scope of your life. I bring a mindfulness-based, Buddhist-oriented approach to understanding mental suffering and the path to ending suffering. I may also involve traditional therapy approaches, including Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Family Systems therapy, Psychodynamic therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Narrative Therapy.

Learn more about Dr. Smith here.