Jamie Smith, MSW, LCSW-C
Jamie Smith, MSW, LCSW-C is guided by her belief in the potential of human relationships with nature to improve wellbeing for humans and the more-than-human world. She has a special interest factors that influence thinking around interdependence, collective responsibility, and bio-social empathy. In her research, Jamie aims to shift anthropocentric epistemologies towards more inclusive and expansive ways of relating to the more-than-human world, towards greater mindfulness, compassion and care. Exploring the role of theory and interdisciplinary collaboration in furthering anti-oppressive social work policy and practice, Jamie is part of emergent global and collective efforts to advance planetary and multi-species justice. She has a particular interest in exploring eco-therapeutic interventions, urban agriculture and permaculture design, and community movements of localization/degrowth and ecological justice.
A wide range of clinical practice experiences, a passion for social and ecological justice, and a penchant for systems thinking have influenced Jamie to pursue a PhD in social work. Her professional background includes working as a family-based therapist in Pittsburgh, PA, in wilderness-based and therapeutic boarding school settings in Asheville, NC, and most recently as an outpatient therapist with a holistic community practice in Salisbury, MD, where she continues practice via telehealth while pursuing her PhD at UConn. Jamie’s clinical practice combines Acceptance and Commitment Therapy with various modalities including family systems, mindfulness, and experiential therapeutic interventions.
MSW
University of Pittsburgh
Research Interests:
Multispecies & ecological justice
Post-anthropocentric social work
Interdependence & bio-social empathy
Interdisciplinary collaboration
Anti-oppression/anti-racism/decolonial practice
Urban community agriculture & localization
Permaculture design
Buddhist philosophy & mindfulness practice
