About Smadar Salzman, LMFT
Smadar Salzman, LMFT, (she/her) Relational & Complex Trauma Expert
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My backgroundMy entry into the field began in 2004 when I volunteered as a group facilitator for adults and families coping with chronic/terminal illness or the death of a loved one at the Center for Attitudinal Healing in Sausalito, California. That experience strengthened my desire to be a companion and support for people struggling to find meaning and to cope with seemingly unbearable life circumstances. Since then I've had the privilege to be a part of many people's healing journeys. I hold a deep passion and commitment to providing the environment, the support, and the tools for my clients to create meaningful, fulfilling lives. Over the past nearly two decades I've worked extensively with trauma survivors in private practice and community mental health agencies, and have gained additional training and expertise in treating Complex, Developmental, and Interpersonal Trauma. I'm also passionate about working with therapists who have a history of Relational or Complex Trauma, Childhood Emotional Neglect, or are HSPs (Highly Sensitive Persons) themselves; I have more than a decade experience providing supervision, consultation, and psychotherapy for therapists. I welcome diverse populations in my therapy practice, including all cultures, sexual orientations, genders, and relationship structures.
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My approach
My therapeutic style is calm, deeply caring, and respectful of each person's unique goals, struggles, and strengths. I practice Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, which means I believe that our pasts affect our present. I'll help you gain awareness of your internal and external obstacles in order to promote deep and lasting changes in your life, not just treat the symptoms. I also provide the practical tools you need to express yourself fully and to communicate and get along with the people in your life. I draw from multiple schools of therapy in addition to Psychodynamic, including Existential, Systems, Attachment, and Interpersonal Neurobiology.
Experience & training
I'm a bilingual/multi-cultural Spanish-speaking California Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. I received my Master's degree in Counseling Psychology from University of San Francisco in 2007. During my traineeship I was one of two interns to receive a grant from the California Endowment's Culturally Sensitive Intern Program; I concurrently completed three years of clinical training at Family Service Agency in Santa Rosa, providing culturally-appropriate counseling and psychotherapy to Latinx immigrant clients in Spanish. I'm also trained and certified as a Clinical Complex Trauma Professional and Domestic Violence Counselor with several years experience facilitating court-mandated domestic violence perpetrator groups for women. In addition to providing psychotherapy, I provide clinical case consultation to licensed therapists in my private practice. I worked for several years as a clinical supervisor for psychodynamic psychotherapists at Fred Finch Youth Center in Oakland on issues relating to childhood and developmental trauma. I've offered trainings and workshops on vicarious traumatization, therapist safety in community mental health settings, and cross-cultural competence, and have researched and written on the topic of women and anger.
Education, licenses, & certifications (selected)
- Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, California Lic. #47213
- University of San Francisco, Masters in Counseling Psychology, 2007
- Complex Trauma Certification Training Levels 1 & 2 (CCTP/CCTP-II) with Janina Fisher, Ph.D. and Bessel van der Kolk, MD., 2019-2020
- The Body Keeps the Score 2-Day Trauma Conference with Bessel van der Kolk, MD., 2021
- The Practice & Principles of Ethical Polyamory with Jessica Fern, Martha Kauppi, Kathy Slaughter & more, 2021
- The Grief Summit: Grief Counseling & Treatment in a Pandemic of Loss, 2021
- Digital Ethics & Telemental Health Certification, Zur Institute, 2018
- EFT (Emotion Focused Therapy) Externship & Core Skills Training with Sue Johnson & Sam Jinich 2014-2015
- New Frontiers in Trauma Treatment Externship with Bessel van der Kolk, MD., 2013
- Certified Domestic Violence & Anger Management Intervention Specialist, 2007-2008
- California Endowment's Culturally Sensitive Intern Program, 2006-2009
- Attitudinal Healing Group Facilitator Training with Gerald Jampolsky & Diane Cirincione-Jampolsky, 2004
My professional affiliations include
- American Psychological Association (APA)
- California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT)
- International Centre for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy (ICEEFT)
- Northern California Center for Emotionally Focused Therapy (NCCEFT)
- Professional Grief Caregivers’ Network (PGCN)
- Kink Aware Professionals (KAP)
- Bay Area Open Minds (BAOM)
- Self and Relational Psychoanalytic Colloquium
